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Researchers who reviewed reports of acupuncture in kids have concluded that the treatment seems safe for the under-18 crowd - but added that more evidence would be helpful to ensure that's the case.

Although there were some instances of serious infections and other hospitalizations after a procedure gone wrong, an acupuncture expert says that when qualified practitioners are using the needles, there's very little risk involved.

"When you're dealing with children, you really would like to know about safety before you go ahead and try a new therapy," says Dr Sunita Vohra, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, who worked on the study.

That's especially true, she adds, "if you're not sure about effectiveness" of a treatment.

Acupuncture is used as an alternative therapy for a range of conditions, including pain, headaches and constipation, but few large, long-term studies have examined either its effectiveness or its safety in youngsters.

Still, "Based on the available evidence, in trained hands, acupuncture is safe for children," Vohra says.

Reuters