OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical efficacy of herb-partitioned moxibustion with spontaneous heating bag in the treatment of persistent and chronic diarrheal disease (PCDD) of children, and to explore the new treatment protocols for pediatric PCDD.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of PCDD were randomly divided into a herb-partitioned moxibustion group (group M) and a western medicine group (group C), 60 cases in each one. The herb-partitioned moxibustion with spontaneous heating bags was given in the group M, which was placed on the herbal cake at Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4) for 12 hours, once a day. The group C was orally administrated with smectite powder and live combined bifidobacterium and lactobacillus tablets. Plasma motilin (MOT) level and T cell subset CD4+/CD8+ ratio were observed after 10 days of the treatment, also the clinical efficacy was evaluated.

RESULTSThe cured rate was 53.3% (32/60) in the group M, which was superior to 40.0% (24/60) in the group C (P < 0.05). After the treatment, MOT levels were both decreased (both P < 0.01) while CD4+/CD8+ ratios were both increased (both P < 0.01) in the two groups. The level of MOT in the group M was lower than that in the group C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe herb-partitioned moxibustion with spontaneous hea-ting bag has better therapeutic effect than routine western medicine on pediatric PCDD, and it has the advantage of easy manipulation, safety and good compliance of children.