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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Pediatr Infect Dis 2021; 16(03): 122-128
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1722205
Original Article

Influence of EPs 7630 on Antipyretic Comedication and Recovery from Acute Tonsillopharyngitis in Children: A Meta-analysis of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trials

Georg Seifert
1   Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Otto-Heubner Centre for Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine (OHC), Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
2   Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Petra Funk
3   Department of Clinical Research, Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Thorsten Reineke
3   Department of Clinical Research, Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, Karlsruhe, Germany
,
Walter Lehmacher
4   Institute for Medical Statistics, Unit of Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding This research was funded by Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co. KG, manufacturer of EPs 7630.
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Abstract

Objective Acute tonsillopharyngitis (ATP) is a common, seasonal infection of predominantly viral origin. Management is aimed at shortening the course of the disease and restoring the comfort of the patient. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether treatment with the Pelargonium sidoides extract EPs 7630 reduces the use of antipyretic comedication (i.e., acetaminophen) in children suffering from ATP.

Methods Studies were identified from clinical trial registries and medical literature. Randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials investigating EPs 7630 in children with ATP and reporting the coadministration of paracetamol were eligible. Based on the raw data of eligible trials, we analyzed cumulative paracetamol use, as well as the ability to attend school at the end of treatment. Three trials including a total of 345 children aged 6 to 10 years and suffering from non-β-hemolytic streptococcal ATP were identified and eligible. Children were administered EPs 7630 or placebo for 6 days.

Results Compared with placebo, EPs 7630 reduced the cumulative paracetamol dose by an average of 449 mg (95% confidence interval [CI]: 252–646 mg; p < 0.001). A total of 19.1% (EPs 7630) and 71.5% (placebo) of children were still unable to attend school at the end of the treatment (risk ratio = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.16–0.48; p < 0.001).

Conclusion Our meta-analysis demonstrates that EPs 7630 reduced the use of antipyretic comedication and accelerated recovery.

Keywords

acute tonsillopharyngitis - children - meta-analysis - paracetamol - Pelargonium sidoides


Publication History

Received: 11 March 2020

Accepted: 08 July 2020

Article published online:
27 January 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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