ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of acupuncture at Sifeng (EX-UE10) combined with Wang's Baochi Pills in the treatment of pediatric malnutrition, so as to provide a more effective method for pediatric malnutrition. METHODS: A total of 201 children with malnutrition were randomly divided into combined treatment group (nï¼102) and control (Baochi Pill) group (nï¼99). The children in the combined treatment group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of Sifeng (EX-UE10, till no more yellowish-white effusion out) and oral administration of Wang's Baochi Pills, and those in the control group treated by oral administration of Wang's Baochi Pills only. The course of treatment was one month for both groups. The integral score of symptom was assessed according to the main symptoms as body weight and height and food-intake, and to the secondary symptoms including mentality, agitation, sleep, hair gloss, susceptibility to cold, hydrosis, abdominal distension, and susceptibility to diarrhea or constipation. The therapeutic effect was assessed by consulting the "Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Syndromes/Illnesses of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)" and "TCM Professional Criteria of the People's Republic of China for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Evaluation of Syndromes/Diseases of TCM Pediatric". RESULTS: After the treatment, the total symptom scores of both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with their own pre-treatment (P<0.05), and the scores of total symptom after the treatment and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd follow-up surveys were obviously lower in the combined treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Of the 99 and 102 cases in the control and combined treatment groups, 47 and 59 were cured, 39 and 37 experienced improvement in their symptoms, and 13 and 6 failed, with the effective rate being 86.87% (86/99) and 94.11%(96/102), respectively. The effective rate of the combined treatment was evidently higher than that of the simple medication (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture of Sifeng (EX-UE10) combined with Wang's Baochi Pills is better than administration of Wang's Baochi Pills alone in the therapeutic effect for pediatric malnutrition.