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Press-needle therapy as an adjunct to medication improves clinical efficacy in pediatric allergic rhinitisPress-needle therapy may improve symptoms for children with allergic rhinitis

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Key Takeaway
Consider press-needle therapy as a well-tolerated adjunct to medication for improving symptoms in pediatric allergic rhinitis.

This meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy and safety of press-needle therapy for pediatric allergic rhinitis. The analysis included 1625 children and compared press-needle therapy as a monotherapy or as an adjunct to standard medication.

Key findings indicate that press-needle therapy combined with medication was superior to medication alone (OR 4.60) and showed significant improvement in clinical efficacy (OR 3.75; 95% CI: 2.59-5.42). Significant reductions were observed in several secondary outcomes, including VAS scores (SMD -1.30), TNSS (SMD -0.74), and PRQLQ scores (SMD -1.16). Additionally, the recurrence rate was significantly lower in the intervention group (OR 0.37; 95% CI: 0.23-0.61).

Several limitations were noted, including the fact that press-needle monotherapy did not show a significant advantage over medication alone. Furthermore, evidence for immunological outcomes such as serum IgE and EOSR is limited; specifically, the serum IgE results were based on only 3 studies with high heterogeneity (I = 96%).

Clinically, press-needle therapy may serve as a well-tolerated adjunct to pharmacotherapy for managing symptoms in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis. However, its role as a standalone treatment is not supported by the current data.

How this fits prior evidence

This meta-analysis addresses a gap in non-pharmacological adjunct therapies for pediatric allergic rhinitis. It complements existing evidence regarding physical interventions, such as nasal saline irrigation which reduces symptoms and antihistamine use. While it does not directly relate to the rodent models of air pollution or the calcium homeostasis research, it provides a clinical perspective on managing symptoms in children.

Managing allergies in children can be a constant struggle for families. New data suggests that adding press-needle therapy to standard medication might help kids with allergic rhinitis. This treatment was well-tolerated by the children in the study and showed significant improvements in overall clinical effectiveness.

Researchers looked at data from over 1,600 children. They found that children who received both press-needle therapy and medication had better outcomes than those who only received medication. These children reported lower scores for nasal symptoms and a better quality of life. The treatment also appeared to lower the rate of symptoms coming back.

While the results are promising, there are some important notes. Press-needle therapy on its own did not show a significant advantage over medication alone. Additionally, the evidence for specific immune markers like IgE levels is limited and should be interpreted with caution. Talk to your doctor to see if this combination is a good option for your child.

What this means for you:
Combining press-needle therapy with medication may improve symptoms and lower recurrence in children with allergies.

Common questions

Is press-needle therapy safe for children with allergies?

Yes, the study found that press-needle therapy was well-tolerated by children. There were no significant differences in adverse drug reactions between the groups, making it a potentially safe option when used alongside standard medications.

How does it compare to using medication alone?

While press-needle therapy alone did not show a significant advantage over medication alone, combining the two treatments was found to be superior to using medication by itself for managing symptoms in children.

Can it help reduce the number of times symptoms return?

Yes, the study found that children who received both press-needle therapy and medication had a significantly lower recurrence rate compared to those who only received medication.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis
Sample sizen = 1,625
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedSep 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
AIMS: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of press-needle therapy for allergic rhinitis in children. METHODS: We comprehensively searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on press-needle therapy for pediatric AR. After strict screening of literature, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality, meta-analysis was performed using appropriate statistical methods. A random-effects model was adopted to synthesize the results, considering differences in follow-up duration and intervention period among included studies. Pre-specified further analyses were conducted for the primary outcome to compare press-needle plus medication vs medication alone, press-needle alone vs medication alone, and press-needle plus medication vs press-needle alone. The primary and secondary outcome measures included clinical efficacy, symptom and sign score, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) score, Eosinophil Ratio (EOSR), serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and recurrence rate. RESULTS: 24 RCTs with 1625 participants were included. Press-needle therapy significantly improved clinical efficacy (OR = 3.75, 95 CI: 2.59-5.42; I = 0%). Further analysis showed that press-needle plus medication was superior to medication alone (OR = 4.60, 95% CI: 3.08-6.86), whereas press-needle monotherapy did not show a significant advantage over medication alone. Significant reductions were observed in VAS (SMD = -1.30), TNSS (SMD = -0.74), PRQLQ (SMD = -1.16), and serum IgE (SMD = -2.06; based on only 3 studies, I = 96%, interpret with caution). No significant differences were found in symptom and sign score, EOSR, or ADRs. Recurrence rate was significantly lower in the intervention group (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.23-0.61). CONCLUSION: Press-needle therapy, primarily as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy, may be a well-tolerated and potentially effective option for pediatric AR, improving clinical response, symptoms, quality of life, and recurrence without increasing adverse events. Evidence for press-needle monotherapy and for immunological outcomes (IgE, EOSR) remains limited. Multi-center, three-arm RCTs with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are needed to isolate its independent effect. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocols for this meta-analysis were registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420261307545.).
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