The effect of Kneipp treatment hydrotherapy on secretory IgA in young children: A controlled, non-randomized clinical pilot study.

Objectives: This pilot study analyses the effect and feasibility of hydrotherapeutic Kneipp arm affusions on secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and classic cold symptoms in children 3-6 years of age.

Study Design: A controlled, non-randomized, clinical pilot study was undertaken.

Intervention: This descriptive hydrotherapeutic intervention treated children aged 3-6 with Kneipp arm affusions over four weeks. The control group received no intervention. At baseline and after the intervention, secretory IgA was measured, cold symptoms were assessed by means of the Common Cold Questionnaire (CCQ), and a semi-structured follow-up qualitative interview of the parents in the intervention group was conducted on acceptance and susceptibility to infection of the respiratory tract.

Results: Fifteen participants were included in the intervention group and 15 were in the control group. The Kneipp arm affusions intervention was conducted at home and well-accepted by the children. No differences developed between the groups regarding sIgA. Comparing the symptoms by means of CCQ did not show symptoms of respiratory tract infections. In the intervention group, rhinitis occurred less frequently (26.7 % vs. 66.7 %, p = 0.057). In the qualitative analysis, 9/13 parents described an improvement in susceptibility to infections of the respiratory tract.

Conclusion: Due to the pilot character of this study, home hydrotherapy (Kneipp arm affusions) in healthy children is feasible but did not influence sIgA levels. The influence on infections of the respiratory tract after the intervention phase should be interpreted carefully. In qualitative interviews, parents described less susceptibility to infections of the respiratory tract by their children.