OBJECTIVETo observe syndrome types of Chinese medicine (CM) and distribution features of acute infectious diarrhea patients.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 465 acute infectious diarrhea patients. The distribution of CM syndrome and syndrome types in different seasons and genders were analyzed.

RESULTSLack of appetite [381 (81.94%)], fatigue [350 (75.27%)], abdominal pain [338 (72.69%)], tenesmus [325 (69.89%)], anal scorching hot [276 (59.35%)], nausea [25 (55.48%)], diarrhea [249 (53.55%)], short yellow-urine [240 (51.61%)], thirsty [210 (45.16%)], and abdominal distention [206 (44.30%)] were most often seen. The syndrome distribution were sequenced as intestinal damp heat syndrome [268 (57.63%)], dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome [106 (22.80%)], cold-damp invading exterior syndrome [47 (10.11%)], Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome [23 (4.95%)], cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome [21 (4.52%)]. The incidence ratio of intestinal damp heat syndrome was the highest in autumn (P < 0.01), while that of cold-damp invading exterior syndrome was the highest in winter (P < 0.01). Cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome was more often seen in females than in males (P < 0.01), and its incidence ratio was the highest in autumn (P < 0.05). The incidence ratio of dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome was the highest in winter (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIntestinal damp heat syndrome was the most often seen in acute infectious diarrhea. Incidence ratios of in- testinal damp heat syndrome and cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome were higher in autumn, while those of cold-damp invading exterior syndrome and dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome were higher in winter. Cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome was more often seen in females.