Efficacy of Huangqin decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of pediatric ulcerative colitis

Yinjuan YU; Genxiang QIU; Mianyong WU

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To investigate the clinical efficacy of Huangqin decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of pediatric ulcerative colitis.

Methods:

A total of 100 children with ulcerative colitis who received treatment at the Longyou People's Hospital from January 2020 to January 2022 were included in this case-control study. They were divided into a control group ( n = 50) and an observation group ( n = 50) according to different treatment methods. Children in the control group were treated with routine western medicine, while those in the observation group were treated with routine western medicine plus Huangqin decoction. Both groups of children were treated for 14 days. The two groups of children were compared in terms of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, clinical efficacy, inflammatory factor levels, intestinal mucosal improvement score, and incidence of adverse reactions.

Results:

After treatment, the level of decrease in traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score in the observation group was significantly greater than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). The total response rate in the observation group was 98% (49/50), which was significantly higher than that in the control group [82% (41/50), χ2 = 7.11, P < 0.05]. The levels of tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein in the observation group were (12.83 ± 4.53) ng/L, (8.55 ± 1.44) ng/L, and (6.35 ± 0.99) mg/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(24.41 ± 5.38) ng/L, (13.14 ± 1.51) ng/L, (10.03 ± 1.05) mg/L, t = 13.21, 7.52, 5.15, all P < 0.05]. The improvement scores for ulcer, congestion, erosion, and edema in the observation group were (1.43 ± 0.20) points, (1.24 ± 0.27) points, (1.36 ± 0.34) points, and (1.02 ± 0.21) points, respectively, which were significantly better than those in the control group [(2.48 ± 0.52) points, (2.19 ± 0.37) points, (2.45 ± 0.32) points, and (2.35 ± 0.40) points, t = 5.12, 4.52, 3.73, 4.84, all P < 0.05]. The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 4% (2/50), which was significantly lower than that in the control group [18% (9/50), χ2 = 5.01, P < 0.05].

Conclusion:

The combination of Huangqin decoction and western medicine for the treatment of pediatric ulcerative colitis can effectively decrease traditional Chinese medicine symptom score and intestinal mucosal score, with a low incidence of adverse reactions, good clinical effect, and high safety.