Cochrane

Review Question We reviewed the evidence about whether using antiseptic treatments on people's skin helps reduce infections related to central venous catheters (CVCs). Background Central venous catheters (CVCs) are thin, flexible tubes that are inserted through the skin into a large vein, often in the arm or chest. The tube can then be used to give ...

Some children are born with an anatomic abnormality that allows backwards flow of urine from the bladder to the kidney. This is called vesicoureteral reflux or VUR. Children with VUR have more urinary tract infections and develop more renal scars than children without VUR. This is especially the case if VUR is severe. As such, clinicians are interested ...

What is the aim of this review? The aim of this Cochrane review is to assess the effects of programs that use the World Health Organization integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy. Cochrane researchers searched for all potentially relevant studies and found four studies that met review criteria. Key messages This review shows ...

Review question Do patients suffering from vertigo from different causes benefit from the drug betahistine? Background Vertigo is a symptom in which individuals experience a false sensation of movement. This type of dizziness is thought to originate in the inner ear balance organ or its connections to the brain. It is a commonly experienced symptom ...

Review question This review compared the effects of oral antibiotics against placebo, no treatment or other therapies in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) or 'glue ear'. Background Glue ear is one of the most common conditions of early childhood. Glue ear means that there is fluid in the middle ear space behind the eardrum. This may ...

Review question We assessed the effects of different types of breast implants on short-term and long-term surgical complications, cosmetic outcomes, satisfaction with the surgical procedure and the quality of life in women undergoing breast reconstruction following a mastectomy (breast removal). Background An estimated 28% to 60% of women affected ...

Background: People with asthma sometimes have asthma attacks, wherein their symptoms such as cough, chest tightness and difficulty breathing become worse. Many patients with asthma attacks are treated with steroids, which are usually given as a short course of tablets or liquid medicine. Steroids work by reducing inflammation in the airways in the ...

What is the issue and why is it important? Although severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum) rarely causes death, it is an important cause of ill health with emotional, physical, and economic consequences. Women may need hospital treatment and may not be able to work and it occasionally causes pregnancy complications and adverse ...

Background When people stop smoking they experience cravings to smoke and unpleasant mood changes. Nicotine receptor partial agonists aim to reduce these withdrawal symptoms and the pleasure people usually experience when they smoke. The most widely-available treatment in this drug type is varenicline, which is available world-wide as an aid for quitting ...

Background Use of pharmaceutical opioids (medicines that are used to treat pain) has increased dramatically in some parts of the world since the mid-1990s. With the increased use, there has been increasing numbers of people seeking treatment for dependence (addiction) on pharmaceutical opioids. Currently, most treatment guidelines are based on research ...