Objective  To observe effect of Zhoushi Huashi Jiebiao Decoction for viral upper respiratory tract infection patients differentiated as damp and heat syndrome.

  Methods  A total of 70 patients were randomly divided into traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) group(n=35) and western medicine group(n=35), given Zhoushi Huashi Jiebiao Decoction and oseltamivir capsules, respectively. The disappearance time of fever after treatment was recorded, and the improvement of symptoms such as sore throat, poor appetite and body discomfort before and after treatment was observed. Venous blood was collected before and after treatment, and CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ and NK cell levels were detected.

  Results  There were statistical significant differences in disappearance time of fever and the total effective rate of TCM syndromes between the two groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). After treatment, CD8⁺, CD4⁺/CD8⁺, CD4⁺ and CD3⁺ lymphocyte subsets in the TCM group increased significantly compared with before treatment (P < 0.05), while NK level showed a decrease, but no significant difference was found (P>0.05). After treatment, CD4⁺/CD8⁺, CD8⁺, CD4⁺, CD3⁺ lymphocyte subsets and NK level in the western medicine group showed no significant differences compared with before treatment(P>0.05). After treatment, the disappearance rates of high fever, body discomfort, sore throat and poor appetite in the TCM group showed significant differences compared to the western medicine group (P < 0.01).

  Conclusion  Zhoushi Huashi Jiebiao Decoction in treating acute viral infection of upper respiratory tract of damp heat syndrome can regulate the level of immune mechanism in vivo, and its clinical efficacy is better than that of western medicine alone.