Most reported harms from needle acupuncture in children were mild, while serious events were largely linked to poor-quality practice.
Researchers systematically searched eighteen databases and reference lists for peer-reviewed studies involving children who received needle acupuncture and reported adverse events. They included randomized trials, cohort studies, and case reports or series, then extracted and classified safety information by event severity.
Across the included reports, most adverse events involved temporary pain, bruising, bleeding, or symptom worsening. Serious events included infections, deformity, organ injury, nerve impairment, bleeding around the brain, and other severe complications, with the authors suggesting many may have resulted from inadequate acupuncture practice rather than properly delivered treatment.
