Phytotherapic and Homeopathic Interventions for Pediatric Infections: A Scoping Review

Background: Acute infections in children are prevalent and often lead to antibiotic overuse due to the lack of evidence-based alternative approaches. Phytotherapeutic and homeopathic treatments are frequently sought as alternative or adjunctive therapies. This scoping review aims to map the existing evidence on the efficacy and safety of these interventions in managing acute pediatric infections. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases to identify studies assessing the use of phytotherapeutic and homeopathic remedies in children with acute infections. Gastrointestinal infections were not considered since the use of non-antibiotic treatments (probiotics) in these conditions has been widely addressed. Results: Phytotherapeutic agents demonstrated promising results in reducing symptom severity and duration. Data on homeopathic remedies were limited and inconsistent. Regarding safety, both interventions were generally well-tolerated, with few adverse events reported. No studies or very limited evidence were available for other acute infections such as urinary, dermatological, osteoarticular and nervous system infections. Conclusions: Phytotherapeutic interventions show potential as effective and safe options for managing acute respiratory tract infections. However, the evidence for other infectious conditions and for homeopathic treatments is very limited or inconsistent. Further high-quality, large-scale studies on different types of pediatric infections are needed.