A Study on Actual Status of Acupuncture Therapy Pediatric Practice

임상 진료에서 소아질환(小兒疾患)에 대한 침술치료(鍼術治療)의 현황 연구

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate a recent status of acupunctural treatment in pediatric practice. Methods: 660,893 children, who visited HAMSOA oriental clinic from January 2004 to December 2005 was screened to decide the number treated with acupuncture, the diagnosis and the type of acupuncture. In addition, the questionnaire for clinician about acupuncture therapy was performed and analysed to understand their applications. Results: The number treated with acupuncture was 69,797, 10.56%. Classified with ages, 3 months and below was 729 (1.7%), 1 year - 3 months was 5,035 (11.80%), 2 year - 1 year was 6,875 (16.10%), 3 year - 2 year was 5,540 (12.98%), 6 year - 3 year was 12.636 (31.94%) and 6 year and above was 10,876 (25.48%). The most frequent diagnosis taken acupuncture was atopic dermatitis (14.93%) and the next was rhinitis (13.80%). The most frequent type of acupuncture was laser acupuncture. The clinicians answered questionnaire agreed that acupuncture therapy is effective for pediatric disease treatment and fear about acupuncture of young patients was the most important obstacle. Conclusion : The acupuncture therapy in pediatric practice is not so frequent treatment but in increasing stage. Futhermore, in-depth research about acupuncture therapy in pediatrics is demanded.