To systematically evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of nebulised Chinese herbal medicine as an adjunctive therapy for paediatric pneumonia.
Approach:
Literature Search: A comprehensive search was conducted in multiple electronic databases for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating nebulised Chinese herbal medicine for paediatric pneumonia.
Data Extraction and Quality Assessment: Two reviewers independently performed literature selection, data extraction, and assessed methodological quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.
Meta-Analysis: Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 17.0 software, and publication bias was assessed using RevMan 5.4.
Key Findings:
Seventeen RCTs involving 1,764 patients were included.
Combination therapy with nebulised Chinese herbal medicine significantly improved the total clinical effective rate (odds ratio = 3.24, 95% CI: (2.24, 4.68), p < 0.001).
The combination therapy significantly shortened the resolution time of respiratory symptoms (SMD = −1.10, 95% CI: (−1.56, −0.64), p < 0.001), fever resolution time (SMD = −1.01, 95% CI: (−1.59, −0.43), p = 0.0006), and hospital stay duration (SMD = −1.06, 95% CI: (−1.38, −0.73), p < 0.001).
Interpretation:
Current evidence suggests that nebulised Chinese herbal medicine combined with conventional Western therapy can significantly improve clinical efficacy and accelerate symptom resolution in children with pneumonia.
Limitations:
Methodological limitations in the included studies were noted.
Absence of a placebo nebulisation control in all included studies.
Conclusion:
Findings warrant further validation in larger, rigorously designed trials.
