0051

A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF THE EFFICACY OF THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND CISAPRIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN

Guo Xiaoqing, Pu Xiuhong, Qiu Xiaoxia., An Tao, Feng Duanhao, Ning Jing

Department of Pediatrics, 309 Hospital of PLA ,Beijing, China

Objective: To compare the efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicine and cisapride in treating constipation of children.

Methods: The 120 children with constipation (age range: 2 month-12 years, mean age: 2.952 ± 2.519 years; the course of constipation: 2.383 ± 2.278 years; the defecation period before the treatment: 3.932 ± 1.299 days) were randomly divided into the treatment group (63 cases)and the control group (57 cases).The patient in treatment group were given the traditional Chinese medicine, while cisapride in control group.

Results: The effective rate in treatment group was 57/63 (90.5%) after 8 weeks, and 50/62 (79.4%) after 6 months. The effective rate in control group was 41/57 (71.9%) after 6 weeks, and 33/57 (57.9%) after 6 months. The long-term and short-term efficacy in treatment group is higher than that in control group. In two groups there were no significant differences in the clinical improvement time and the defection period at 2-8 weeks after the treatment. The defection period after 6 months in treatment group was 1.921 ± 1.406 days, while 3.894 ± 1.676 days in control group. There was significant statistically. (P<0.01).

Conclusion: The traditional Chinese in treating constipation of children was more effective. Further studies should delineate the mechanism of treatment and the effective component of the traditional Chinese medicine.

Key words: the traditional herbs, cisapride, constipation