Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of a series of Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) empirical prescriptions with salbutamol and montelukast(SM) in children with asthma.METHODS: A total of 182 children with asthma were randomized into the TCM group(n = 97) or SM group(n = 85). Patients in the TCM group were treated with a series of TCM prescriptions, whereas those in the SM group received salbutamol and montelukast; both groups received their respective treatment for 12 weeks. Asthma control, changes in scores of TCM symptom patterns, and asthma symptom control(SC) scores after treatment were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: A higher percentage of patients in the TCM group had asthma control compared withthose in the SM group(91.67% and 76.83%, respectively, P = 0.006). Scores for abnormal feces(P < 0.001), and tongue appearance(P = 0.001) in the TCM group were significantly better than those in the SM group. However,the total scores of TCM symptom patterns and SC scores did not differ significantly between the two groups(P > 0.05).CONCLUSION: Compared with salbutamol and montelukast, the TCM prescriptions tested were better for symptom control in children with asthma.

Key words: Asthma, Albuterol, Feces, Hyperhidrosis, Abnormal tongue presentations, Syndrome differentiation, Chinese medical formula, Randomized controlled trial