A randomized double blind controlled study on the efficacy of spirulina as an adjunct therapy in the management of pediatric community acquired pneumonia-c in patients 6 months to 5 years old admitted in a tertiary government hospital

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To determine the effect of Spirulina among patients with community acquired Pneumonia-C (PCAP-C) based on the resolution of the following symptoms; fever, respiratory rate, chest indrawings, rales, oxygen saturation and compare their length of hospital stay.@*DESIGN@#A randomized-double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial.@*SETTING@#The study was done at a tertiary government hospital@*PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS@#Children 6 months to 5 years old with PCAP-C were randomized to either treatment group A or B. The two groups received the standard treatment for pneumonia and adjunct treatment of Spirulina for group A and placebo for group B.@*RESULTS@#A total of 14 7 patients participated in the study. Seventy four patients were randomized to group A and 73 patients to group B. Respiratory rate showed greater improvement with Spirulina supplementation starting day 3, 4 and 5. Resolution of chest in-drawing was significant in Spirulina group on day 2 (p- value < 0.05), day 3 (p - value < 0.05) and day 4 (p - value <0.05). There were more patients in Spirulina group with decreased to absent rales on day 2 (p-value 0.02), day 3 (p-value 0.039), day 4 (p-value 0.01) and day 5 (p-value 0.01). Temperature and oxygen saturation on both groups had almost similar trends. The mean hospital stay in Spirulina group (3.09 days) is shorter as compared to the placebo group (p-value 0.02).@*CONCLUSION@#Spirulina supplementation showed positive effects in PCAP-C. Its immunemodulating effect played a positive role in the treatment outcome of pneumonia.