Chinese Medicinal Herbs for Childhood Pneumonia: a Systematic Review of Effectiveness and Safety

Objective. To assess the efficacy and safety of Chinese medicinal herbs for Childhood Pneumonia. Methods. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The searched electronic databases included PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI, and VIP. All studies included were assessed for quality and risk bias. Review Manager 5.1.6 software was used for data analyses, and the GRADEprofiler software was applied to classify the systematic review results. Results. Fourteen studies were identified (n = 1.824). Chinese herbs may increase total effective rate (risk ratio (RR) 1.18; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-1.26) and improve cough (total mean difference (MD), -2.18; 95% CI, (-2.66)-(-1.71)), fever (total MD, -1.85; 95% CI, (-2.29)-(-1.40)), rales (total MD, -1.53; 95% CI, (-1.84)-(-1.23)), and chest films (total MD, -3.10; 95% CI, (-4.11)-(-2.08)) in Childhood Pneumonia. Chinese herbs may shorten the length of hospital stay (total MD, -3.00; 95% CI, (-3.52)-(-2.48)), but no significant difference for adverse effects (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.09-1.72) was identified. Conclusion. Chinese herbs may increase total effective rate and improve symptoms and signs. However, large, properly randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies are required.