Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Huo Xiang Zhengqi dropping pill in treating wind cold and dampness stagnation pattern of common cold. Methods A multicenter, randomlyized, double blind, double dummy, controlled trial was conducted. A total of 480 patients with common cold were randomly divided into two groups: a trial group (360 patients) were treated with Huo Xiang Zhengqi Dropping Pill and Huo Xiang Summer-heat Eliminating Soft Capsule analogue, while a control group (120 patients) were treated with Huo Xiang Summer-heat Eliminating Soft Capsule and Huo Xiang Zhengqi Dropping Pill analogue. The therapeutic course of both groups was 3 days. Results The therapeutic effectiveness of diarrhea as the main symptom: the marked effective rate and total effective rate of the trial group were 86.1% and 96.1%, respectively, while those of the control group were 69.2% and 84.6%, respectively; the therapeutic effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pattern: the marked effective rate and total effective rate of the trial group were 87.5% and 98.5%, respectively, while those of the control group were 69.2% and 91.5%, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the above two indicators (Plt;0.05), which indicated Huo Xiang Zhengqi Dropping Pill was superior to Huo Xiang Summer-heat Eliminating Soft Capsule in treating wind cold and dampness stagnation pattern of common cold. No adverse effects were found in the trial group. Conclusion Huo Xiang Zhengqi Dropping Pill is effective and safe in treating wind cold and dampness stagnation pattern of common cold.
Objective To evaluate and select essential medicine for children with fever and adult gastrointestinal flu caused by common cold using evidence-based approaches based on the burden of disease for township health centers located in eastern, central and western regions of China. Methods By means of the approaches, criteria, and workflow set up in the second article of this series, we referred to the recommendations of evidence-based or authority guidelines from inside and outside China, collected relevant evidence from domestic clinical studies, and recommended essential medicine based on evidence-based evaluation. Data were analyzed by Review Manager (RevMan) 5.1 and GRADE profiler 3.6 to evaluate quality of evidence. Results (1) 12 guidelines were included, 11 of which were evidence-based or based on expert consensus. We offered a recommendation for medicines used in the treatment including analgesics and antipyretics, decongestants, antihistamines, cough-relieving drug, phlegm-removing drug and drug for gastrointestinal symptoms. (2) A result of four RCTs (very low quality) indicated that in the treatment of children with cold, ibuprofen suspension had an antipyretic effect similar to paracetamol solution (for oral use) with a pooled result of 6-hour efficiency in relieving fever (RR 1.48, 95%CI 0.66 to 3.30, P=0.34). The major adverse effects of ibuprofen suspension included gastrointestinal reaction and profuse sweats (RR=1.23, 95%CI 0.72 to 2.11, P=0.45). With good applicability, ibuprofen suspension (for oral use with no need to be supervised) cost 1.93 yuan daily. (3) A result of three RCTs (low quality) indicated that after given for 30 minutes and one hour, paracetamol solution (suppository) was fairly superior to ibuprofen suspension in lowering the high temperature caused by fever (given for 30 min: MD= –0.16°C, 95%CI –0.21 to –0.11, Plt;0.01; given for one hour: MD= –0.19°C, 95%CI –0.28 to 0.10, Plt;0.01). As to adverse reaction, paracetamol solution (suppository) mainly included anal irritation, skin rashes and profuse sweats, which had a comparative result of incidence with ibuprofen suspension (RR=1.84, 95%CI 0.62 to 5.44, P=0.27). For children with fever, paracetamol solution (suppository) cost 0.90 yuan daily. With good applicability, paracetamol solution (suppository) was administered via the anus. Conclusion (1) We offer a b recommendation for ibuprofen suspension (2 g/100 mL) or acetaminophen (0.1 g/suppository) as symptomatic treatment used in children with fever, pain and discomfort caused by common cold, and for Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Jiao Nang (0.3 g/ capsule) used in adults with gastrointestinal flu. We also offer a weak recommendation for acetylcysteine (injection, 300 mg/mL, 10 mL/ampoule) used in patients with paracetamol poisoning. (2) In order to produce high-quality local evidence, we proposed that large-scale, well-designed, high-quality clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies on ibuprofen suspension and acetaminophen suppository in the treatment of children with fever, pain and discomfort caused by common cold should be further carried out. Besides, we proposed that large-scale, well-designed, high-quality clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies on Chinese patent drugs of Huo Xiang Zheng Qi used in chidren and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Jiao Nang used in adults should further carried out. Moreover, we suggest that epidemiological investigation as well as clinical and pharmacoeconomic studies of acetylcysteine injection for paracetamol poisoning should be carried out and the instructions of acetylcysteine injection should be added in the guidelines of essential medicine in China. Finally, further studies on evidence of oxymetazoline, dextromethorphan and other Chinese patent drugs with the effect of relieving cough and treating cold should be carried out.
Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Lianpu granule (LPG) in the treatment of common cold (Feng-Re syndrome). Methods The clinical trials were conducted by good clinical practice (GCP). In the phaseⅡ, a double-blind controlled trial involving 48 patients with common cold (Feng-Re syndrome) allocated by a random number table to receive LPG (n=24) or compound oral liquid of Shuanghuanglian (SHL) (n=24) as conducted; the other 80 patients included in the phase Ⅲ, multi-center randomized and controlled trial were divided into the LPG group (n=60) and SHL group (n=20) by a random number table. We didn’t evaluate the allocation concealment. LPG was administered as a dose of 8 g, three times a day, and SHL, as a dose of 10 ml, three times a day. The treatment duration for both groups was 3 days. All data were analyzed by using stata 7.0 for per-protocol population. Results In the Lianpu granule group, the good improvement rates were 90.00% (18/20) and 85.00% (51/60), and the improvement rates were 95.00% (19/20) and 98.33% (59/60); the good improvement rates for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes were 85.00% (17/20) and 85.00% (51/60), and the improvement rates were 95.00% (19/20) and 98.33% (59/60); the good improvement rates for fever were 85.00% (17/20) and 86.05% (37/43), and the improvement rates were 95.00% (19/20) and 95.35% (41/43) in the phase Ⅱ and Ⅲ respectively. Meanwhile for the compound oral liquid of SHL group, the good improvement rates were 85.71% (18/21) and 80.00% (16/20), and the improvement rates were 95.24% (20/21) and 95.00% (19/20); the good improvement rates for traditional Chinese medicine syndromes were 85.71% (18/21) and 80.00% (16/20), and the improvement rates were 95.24% (20/21) and 95.00% (19/20); the good improvement rates for fever were 85.71% (18/21) and 80.00% (12/15), and the improvement rates were 90.48% (19/21) and 93.33% (14/15) in the phase Ⅱ and Ⅲ respectively. No significant differences were seen between LPG and SHL groups on treatment duration, clinical effect and improvement rate for fever (all P ＞0.05). No adverse effects were seen in this study. Conclusion LPG has showed a definite clinical effect on common cold (Feng-Re syndrome) with no observed adverse effects.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chaihu drop-pill in the treatment of common cold (wind-heat syndrome). MethodsA multi-center, double blind, double dummy, randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 479 patients with common cold (wind-heat syndrome) diagnosed between February and August, 2011, were randomly divided into two groups:the trial group (n=359) and the control group (n=120). The trial group received Chaihu drop-pill and Yinchai granule analogue three times a day, while the control group received Yinchai granule and Chaihu drop-pill analogue. The therapeutic courses of both groups were 3 days. Clinical symptoms, syndromes, and adverse effects were observed before and after the treatment. Furthermore, blood, urine and stool test, hepatorenal function test and electrocardiogram were also carried out before and after treatment. ResultsAfter treatment, the healing rates of the trial group and the control group were 32.4%, 20.2% (for full analysis set) and 32.6%, 20.5% (for per protocol set), and the overall response rates were 96.3%, 87.4% (for full analysis set) and 96.5%, 87.2% (for per protocol set). There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.01). No adverse effects were found in the trial. ConclusionChaihu drop-pill is effective and safe in the treatment of common cold (wind-heat syndrome).
The common cold is the most common acute respiratory infectious disease, with a high incidence and widespread susceptibility. Most common colds are self-limited but can lead to serious social and economic burdens. In recent years, the symptoms of common cold patients have been complex and diverse, and some patients can develop serious complications, even threatening their lives. The Anti-infection Committee, Emergency Doctor Branch of Chinese Medical Doctor Association has developed the Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Common Cold in Adults, 2023, which explored 15 important issues related to clinical practice. This article provides a detailed and comprehensive interpretation of the guideline, in order to better understand the diagnosis and treatment of adult common cold and serve clinical practice.