中医外治法治疗小儿感染后咳嗽的研究进展

Research Progress on External Treatment Methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Cough after Infection in Children

摘要: 近年来，儿童感染后咳嗽发病率较高，且病势迁延难愈。目前现代医学对于小儿感染后咳嗽(Post-Infectious Cough, PIC)发病的机制尚不明确，西医治疗方法多为对症治疗，但疗效欠佳，易复发。中医外治法治疗小儿感染后咳嗽方法多样，如推拿、针灸、穴位贴敷、拔罐、耳穴压豆等，均能明显改善患儿症状、缩短病程，且副作用小，不易复发，患儿及家长接受度高。但是开展的临床研究样本量较小，且中医外治法治疗小儿感染后咳嗽的作用机制研究较少。近年来，随着医学的不断进步，中医外治法在治疗小儿感染后咳嗽方面取得了较好的成效，本文就中医外治法治疗小儿感染后咳嗽的研究进行综述。

Abstract: In recent decades, the incidence of cough following respiratory infections in pediatric patients has remained high, characterized by a prolonged and stubborn clinical course. Despite ongoing research, the precise pathophysiological mechanisms underlying post-infectious cough (PIC) in children remain elusive within the framework of contemporary Western medicine. Current therapeutic interventions in Western medicine are largely symptomatic, offering limited efficacy and a propensity for recurrence. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a diverse array of external treatment modalities for PIC in children, including tuina (Chinese massage), acupuncture, acupoint application (herbal patches on specific acupuncture points), cupping therapy, and auricular therapy (pressure application to specific points on the ear). These methods have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in alleviating symptoms, shortening the duration of illness, and exhibiting minimal adverse effects. Notably, they also exhibit a lower recurrence rate and enjoy high acceptance among both pediatric patients and their parents. However, it is important to acknowledge that the clinical studies conducted to date on these TCM external treatment methods have been limited by relatively small sample sizes. Furthermore, there is a notable lack of research exploring the underlying mechanisms of action of these treatments. In recent years, advancements in medical science have facilitated significant progress in the application of TCM external treatment methods for PIC in children. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current research landscape, highlighting key findings, and identifying areas for future exploration in this field.