The efficacy and safety of combining different Chinese patent medicines with conventional Western drugs in the treatment of pediatric allergic rhinitis: network meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Ethnopharmacological significance

Pediatric allergic rhinitis (AR) is often treated with conventional Western medical therapy (CWMT), but such regimens can cause adverse effects. Evidence suggests that Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) combined with CWMT may improve symptom control and immunological markers, yet no PRISMA-compliant network meta-analysis (NMA) has systematically compared available CPMs.

Objective

This study aims to conduct an NMA of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of CPMs plus CWMT in pediatric AR.

Methods

We conducted a PRISMA-guided NMA of randomized controlled trials evaluating CPMs plus CWMT versus CWMT alone for pediatric allergic rhinitis. Eight databases were searched through May 2025. Risk of bias was assesse

SUBMITTER: Ma Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12695863 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature