The aim of this study is to investigate the use of medicinal plants in children of zero to 12 years hospitalized in the "Hospital Infantil Arlinda Marques", City of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Brazil between August 2000 and June 2001. For the collection of the data a half-structuralized script interview was applied to 132 children's companions. The results evidenced that the illnesses which mostly affected the children were: 1) pneumonia (26%), 2) infections of the intestines (13%), 3) anemia (8%), 4) kidneys illnesses (7%). About 27,3% of the companions had used medicinal plants in the children before going to the hospital service; 41,7% had associated plants with some medicines. Based on this, it can be concluded that the use of medicinal plants in children for the treatment of illnesses has its risks and benefits that need to be evaluated by health professionals.
Medicinal plants; children; risks and benefits
