Researchers Claim Clowns Help Sicks Kids Get Well Quicker

According to the new study, spending time with clowns can also reduce the duration of intravenous antibiotic use. II CLOWN CARAMELLO VIA PEXELS.

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The old saying goes that laughter is the best medicine, and researchers found that youngsters seriously ill with pneumonia in hospital made a faster recovery after a visit from face-painted entertainers.

Spending time with a specially-trained medical clown can shorten the hospital stay for children, say scientists.

According to the new study, they can also reduce the duration of intravenous antibiotic use.

Study leader Dr. Karin Yaacoby-Bianu of Carmel Medical Center in Israel said: “Medical clowns undergo specific training to work in hospitals.

“They have been shown to reduce pain and alleviate stress and anxiety in children and their families during medical treatment, and have been gradually integrated into many aspects of hospital care.

“But their impact on children being treated for pneumonia has not yet been investigated.

“Community-acquired pneumonia is one of the leading causes of hospitalization in children globally.

“A child’s length of hospital stay depends on several factors including their well-being, vital signs, need for intravenous fluids and antibiotics and whether they develop complications.”

The team followed 51 children aged between two- and 18-years-old who had been hospitalized due to pneumonia.

One group received standard care; the second received standard care plus a 15-minute visit from a medical clown twice daily during the first 48 hours of hospitalization.