EFFICACY OF NEUROREFLEXOTHERAPY
(NRT) AND SELF-CARE IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA
Title.
Clinical trial on the efficacy of neuroreflexotherapy
and the effectiveness of self-care in the treatment of childhood
asthma.
Background.
Childhood asthma is a serious and common
illness. Furthermore, its frequency is increasing progressively
in industrialized countries. Self-care consists of a program
of health education that involves the asthmatic, his or her
family, school and social environment, in which the following
are taught: how to recognize the on-set of an asthmatic crisis,
how to avoid it, and how to handle it. While it is applied
and its efficacy is assumed, information is still lacking
to prove its effectiveness.
There is also data suggesting that NRT can be effective in
the treatment of childhood allergic asthma. This efficacy
could be explained by its inhibiting effect on the mechanisms
of neurogenic inflammation. Neurogenic inflammation consists
of the prompting or exacerbating of inflammation due to the
release of certain substances (neurotransmitters or neuromodulators)
by the nerves. These mechanisms have been shown to be essential
in provoking and amplifying asthmatic crises.
At the same time, the data generated by asthmatic patients
treated with NRT suggest that this procedure could be effective.
In order to evaluate this possibility rigorously, a controlled
clinical trial must be made.
Objectives.
To evaluate the efficacy of NRT and the effectiveness
of self-care in the treatment and management of childhood
asthma.
Methodology.
It was a multicenter, controlled and randomized
study with two kinds of intervention: one clinical and the
other educational. The subjects under study were school children,
from 7 to 11 years old, with childhood asthma. The subjects
came from public and private schools in Madrid, Malaga, Palma
de Mallorca, and Ronda. NRT was performed on a group of subjects
and on their controls (the only difference being the placement
of the implanted material), and training in self-care was
given to another group of subjects whose controls did not
receive any kind of intervention.
The sample size was 1,000 children and the different questionnaires
and data records to be used in the study measured both clinical
factors (morbidity, amount of medication taken, number of
crises, level of physical activity, and evolution and variability
of the tests reflecting bronchial and lung state and function)
as well as other variables (use of health services, absenteeism
from school, days of restricted activity, psychosocial factors,
academic performance and quality of life).
Participants, along with the Science Department
of the Kovacs Foundation.
School of Public Health of the University
of Michigan, USA; Pediatrics and Pneumology Departments at
the following hospitals; Niño Jesús (Madrid),
Son Dureta (Palma de Mallorca), Serranía de Ronda (Ronda)
and Materno Infantil (Málaga).
Status.
The protocols for the study have been established
and it will begin as soon as the necessary funds are available
to carry it out.
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