Clinical observation of treatment of infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency using five-step pediatric tuina of Huxiang school

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of treating infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency with five-step pediatric tuina of Huxiang school. Methods: Using a randomized controlled trial design, sixty eligible kids with diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. The observation group was intervened by the five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school, and the control group received conventional tuina treatment. The intervention was conducted once a day, consecutive 5-day treatment as 1 course, at a 2-day interval between courses, successively for a total of 4 courses. Changes in the primary and secondary symptoms of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were observed, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. Results: After treatment, the scores of primary and secondary symptoms and the general score of diarrhea due to spleen deficiency were improved; the improvements in fecal form and frequency, decreased appetite, bloating after meals and fatigue and sluggishness were more significant in the observation group than in the control group. Conclusion: The five-step pediatric tuina method of Huxiang school and conventional tuina both can improve the primary and secondary symptoms in infantile diarrhea due to spleen deficiency, while the former one can produce more significant efficacy.