Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of Huopu Xialing decoction for oral administration combined with plaster application on Shenque acupoint in treatment of damp heat-type infantile persistent diarrhea and their effect on the serum level of (IL-10)

(IL-23) and (TNF-α). Method: Patients with damp heat-type infantile persistent diarrhea were divided into control group and observation group by random number table

with 60 cases in each group. For control group

patients took Dioctahedralsmectite. Patients in observation group were treated with oral administration of Huopu Xialing decoction combined with plaster application on Shenque acupoint. Course of treatment were 3 d for both groups. Total effective rate

frequency of diarrhea at 1

2

3 d after treatment

and stool routine were compared between both groups. The serum levels IL-10

IL-23 and TNF-α were detected before and after treatment. Result: The total effective rate of the treatment and control groups was 93.33% and 83.33% respectively with a significant difference between them (P<0.05). At the second and third day after the treatment

the frequency of diarrhea for observation group was less than that of control group (P<0.01). After treatment

indexes of stool routine in both group was higher than before the treatment

and abnormal cases for WBC and RBC of observation group was less than that of control group (P<0.05). After treatment

serum level of IL-10 in observation group were obviously higher than control group

while IL-23 and TNF-α of observation group were lower than that of control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Oral administration of Huopu Xialing decoction combined with plaster application on Shenque acupoint in treatment of damp heat-type infantile persistent diarrhea shows significant efficacy

and its mechanism may be related with increasing serum levels of IL-10 and inhibiting IL-23 and TNF-α.