Acupuncture for Prevention of Primary Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Overview for the Pediatric Neurologist

IF 3.2 3区医学 Q2 CLINICAL NEUROLOGY

Pediatric neurology Pub Date : 2024-12-30 DOI:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.12.013

Alessia Raffagnato MD , Maria Paola Rossaro MD , Elena Piretti MD , Laura Galdiolo MD , Maria Federica Pelizza MD , Stefano Sartori MD, PhD , Margherita Nosadini MD, PhD , Irene Toldo MD, PhD

{"title":"Acupuncture for Prevention of Primary Headaches in Children and Adolescents: A Literature Overview for the Pediatric Neurologist","authors":"Alessia Raffagnato MD , Maria Paola Rossaro MD , Elena Piretti MD , Laura Galdiolo MD , Maria Federica Pelizza MD , Stefano Sartori MD, PhD , Margherita Nosadini MD, PhD , Irene Toldo MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2024.12.013","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>To deepen the role of acupuncture as preventive treatment for pediatric primary headaches in children and adolescents and to understand if acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture or pharmacologic preventive treatment, acupuncture tolerability, and beneficial effect on psychiatric comorbidities.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A critical literature review was performed. Following PRISMA guidelines, all reports published (PubMed, 1982-2023) were considered. PICOS method was applied for paper selection. Efficacy measures were reduction of headache frequency, duration, and intensity compared with baseline, and, if available, with a control group. We also aimed to describe treatment protocols, the reason for choosing this treatment, patients' perception of acupuncture experience, and acupuncture's impact on headache comorbidity and general functioning.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Five of 90 papers were selected, corresponding to a population of 229 children/adolescents (zero to 21 years). Among these, two controlled studies evaluated reduction of headache frequency, intensity, and duration.</div><div>True acupuncture versus placebo significantly reduced headache frequency (reduction of seven to eight headache days/month versus zero to one headache days/month, respectively), intensity on a visual analog scale (5.4 points compared with 1.6 points in placebo group), and headache duration. Tolerability data on acupuncture were favorable. Acupuncture experience was positively perceived by most patients, improved pain-related total interference in functioning, and reduced anxiety levels.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The few studies dealing with acupuncture as preventive treatment of pediatric primary headaches, despite their methodologic limitations, highlighted its efficacy. Further detailed studies are needed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19956,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric neurology","volume":"165 ","pages":"Pages 22-30"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pediatric neurology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887899424004223","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

To deepen the role of acupuncture as preventive treatment for pediatric primary headaches in children and adolescents and to understand if acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture or pharmacologic preventive treatment, acupuncture tolerability, and beneficial effect on psychiatric comorbidities.

Methods

A critical literature review was performed. Following PRISMA guidelines, all reports published (PubMed, 1982-2023) were considered. PICOS method was applied for paper selection. Efficacy measures were reduction of headache frequency, duration, and intensity compared with baseline, and, if available, with a control group. We also aimed to describe treatment protocols, the reason for choosing this treatment, patients' perception of acupuncture experience, and acupuncture's impact on headache comorbidity and general functioning.

Results

Five of 90 papers were selected, corresponding to a population of 229 children/adolescents (zero to 21 years). Among these, two controlled studies evaluated reduction of headache frequency, intensity, and duration.

True acupuncture versus placebo significantly reduced headache frequency (reduction of seven to eight headache days/month versus zero to one headache days/month, respectively), intensity on a visual analog scale (5.4 points compared with 1.6 points in placebo group), and headache duration. Tolerability data on acupuncture were favorable. Acupuncture experience was positively perceived by most patients, improved pain-related total interference in functioning, and reduced anxiety levels.

Conclusions

The few studies dealing with acupuncture as preventive treatment of pediatric primary headaches, despite their methodologic limitations, highlighted its efficacy. Further detailed studies are needed.

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Pediatric neurology 医学-临床神经学

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

2.60%

发文量

176

审稿时长

78 days

期刊介绍： Pediatric Neurology publishes timely peer-reviewed clinical and research articles covering all aspects of the developing nervous system. Pediatric Neurology features up-to-the-minute publication of the latest advances in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of pediatric neurologic disorders. The journal''s editor, E. Steve Roach, in conjunction with the team of Associate Editors, heads an internationally recognized editorial board, ensuring the most authoritative and extensive coverage of the field. Among the topics covered are: epilepsy, mitochondrial diseases, congenital malformations, chromosomopathies, peripheral neuropathies, perinatal and childhood stroke, cerebral palsy, as well as other diseases affecting the developing nervous system.