MA Xiaomin,LIU Zhen,YANG Yumeng,et al.Systematic review of efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions in treating post⁃infectious cough in children[J].Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2026,60(3):33-43.
MA Xiaomin,LIU Zhen,YANG Yumeng,et al.Systematic review of efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions in treating post⁃infectious cough in children[J].Shanghai Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2026,60(3):33-43. DOI: 10.16305/j.1007-1334.2025.z20250217003.
Systematic review of efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine compound prescriptions in treating post⁃infectious cough in children
To systematically review the clinical efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound prescriptions in the treatment of post-infectious cough (PIC) in children.
Methods
2
A computer-based search was conducted in eight databases, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), WanFang Data, VIP (Chinese Journals Service Platform), SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, for relevant literature on the treatment of PIC in children, with publication dates from the inception of the databases up to December 10, 2024. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions, and meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.4 software.
Results
2
①A total of 17 studies were included, involving 1,296 children (691 males, and 605 females) aged 1 to 17 years. ②The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, indicating some studies had potential bias risks. ③Meta-analysis results showed that the experimental group had a higher clinical efficacy rate and better TCM syndrome efficacy than the control group [
RR
=1.18, 95%
CI
(1.13, 1.24),
P
<
0.000 01;
RR
=1.38, 95%
CI
(1.14, 1.68),
P
=0.001]. The experimental group also showed better improvement in cough, expectoration, and TCM syndrome scores [
SMD
=-0.67, 95%
CI
(-0.84,-0.50),
P
<
0.000 01;
SMD
=-0.52, 95%
CI
(-0.82, -0.21),
P
=0.000 9;
SMD
=-1.02, 95%
CI
(-1.21, -0.82),
P
<
0.000 01]. The experimental group had a shorter onset and cure time than the control group [
SMD
=-1.10, 95%
CI
(-1.82, -0.37),
P
=0.003;
SMD
=-0.38, 95%
CI
(-0.71, -0.05),
P
=0.02]. The recurrence rate of PIC in children of the experimental group was lower than that in the c
ontrol group [
RR
=0.34,
95%
CI
(0.12, 0.95),
P
=0.04]. 10 articles included in the literature reported adverse reactions, but no adverse events occurred.
Conclusions
2
Compared to Western medicine, the use of TCM compound prescriptions alone is more effective in improving cough, expectoration, and TCM syndrome symptoms in children with PIC. It also enhances clinical efficacy, shortens treatment time, and demonstrates high safety. However, the limited number and quality of the included studies require further validation of these findings.
LEFTIN DOBKIN S C , COLLACO J M , MCGRATH-MORROW S A . Protracted respiratory findings in children post-SARS-CoV-2 infection [J]. Pediatr Pulmonol , 2021 , 56 ( 12 ): 3682 - 3687 .
KUMAR P , JAT K R . Post-COVID-19 Sequelae in Children [J]. Indian J Pediatr , 2023 , 90 ( 6 ): 605 - 611 .
CHANG A B , OPPENHEIMER J J , IRWIN R S . Managing chronic cough as a symptom in children and management algorithms: CHEST guideline and expert panel report [J]. Chest , 2020 , 158 ( 1 ): 303 - 329 .
MORICE A H , MILLQVIST E , BIEKSIENE K , et al . ERS guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of chronic cough in adults and children [J]. Eur Respir J , 2020 , 55 ( 1 ): 1901136 .
KANTAR A , SEMINARA M . Why chronic cough in children is different [J]. Pulm Pharmacol Ther , 2019 , 56 : 51 - 55 .
CHEN X , PENG W S , WANG L . Etiology analysis of nonspecific chronic cough in children of 5 years and younger [J]. Medicine (Baltimore) , 2019 , 98 ( 3 ): e13910 .
LI Y , ZHAO R , ZHANG M , et al . Xingbei antitussive granules ameliorate cough hypersensitivity in post-infectious cough guinea pigs by regulating tryptase/PAR2/TRPV1 pathway [J]. J Ethnopharmacol , 2024 , 319 ( Pt 3 ): 117243 .
YANG Z , LIANG Y , WU C , et al . Kemin capsule ameliorates post-infectious cough by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and TRPA1/TRPV1 channels [J]. J Ethnopharmacol , 2025 , 337 ( Pt 1 ): 118837 .
PAGE M J , MCKENZIE J E , BOSSUYT P M , et al . The PRISMA 2020 statement:an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews [J]. BMJ , 2021 , 372 : n71 .
HIGGINS J P , SAVOVIĆ J , PAGE M J , et al . Chapter 8:Assessing risk of bias in a randomized trial [EB/OL].[ 2025-01-08 ]. https://www.cochrane.org/zh-hans/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-08 https://www.cochrane.org/zh-hans/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-08 .
DEEKS J J , HIGGINS J P , ALTMAN D G , et al . Chapter 10:Analysing data and undertaking meta-analyses [EB/OL].[ 2025-01-08 ]. https://www.cochrane.org/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-10 https://www.cochrane.org/authors/handbooks-and-manuals/handbook/current/chapter-10 .
NEWCOMBE P A , SHEFFIELD J K , PETSKY H L , et al . A child chronic cough-specific quality of life measure:development and validation [J]. Thorax , 2016 , 71 ( 8 ): 695 - 700 .
NEWCOMBE P A , SHEFFIELD J K , JUNIPER E F , et al . Development of a parent-proxy quality-of-life chronic cough-specific questionnaire:clinical impact vs psychometric evaluations [J]. Chest , 2008 , 133 ( 2 ): 386 - 395 .
SCHULZ K F , ALTMAN D G , MOHER D , et al . CONSORT 2010 statement:updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials [J]. BMJ , 2010 , 340 : c332 .
BUTCHER N J , MONSOUR A , MEW E J , et al . Guidelines for reporting outcomes in trial reports:The CONSORT-outcomes 2022 extension [J]. JAMA , 2022 , 328 ( 22 ): 2252 - 2264 .
Clinical observation of external application of mirabilite in preventing second asparaginase⁃associated pancreatitis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Application of Chinese materia medica for tonifying qi and activating blood in diabetic kidney disease
Mechanism of Chinese materia medica in regulating MAPK signaling pathway for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
Progress in kidney‑tonifying and liver‑regulating traditional Chinese medicines for Parkinson's disease via regulating mitophagy
Application of machine learning algorithms in screening of active components in Chinese materia medica
Related Author
TANG Huijiao
ZHANG Tian'ao
DENG Zhaohui
YU Jingjian
ZHAI Yingjiu
YU Zhenjie
XI Derong
YANG Xuejun
Related Institution
Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine Nephrology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Department of Endocrinology, Guangming Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Pudong New Area
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai Pudong Geriatric Hospital
Cardiovascular Research Laboratory,Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine