Efficacy of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction combined with oseltamivir and ribavirin for aged patients with viral flu during the recent influenza pandemic in Mainland China: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

The relationship between adjunctive traditional Chinese medicine therapy and symptom resolution in viral influenza has not been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to evaluate whether the addition of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin (MFX) decoction to standard antiviral therapy improves clinical outcomes in patients with early-stage viral influenza.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized controlled study involving 61 patients with viral influenza symptoms presenting within 48 hours of onset. Participants were assigned based on disease severity, age, and sex in a 1:1 ratio to either the MFXD plus antiviral drugs group (MFXD group, n = 31) or the antiviral drugs alone group (control group, n = 30). Fever duration and virological clearance were compared between groups during and after treatment.

RESULTS

After 5 days, the MFXD group exhibited a significantly shorter fever duration (27.4 ± 11.1 hours) compared to the control group (60.9 ± 21.6 hours; P < .01). By day 3, 22 of 35 patients (62.9%) in the MFXD group had become afebrile, compared with 12 of 33 (36.4%) in the control group (P = .028). By day 5, fever resolution was achieved in 30 of 31 evaluable patients (96.8%) in the MFXD group versus 19 of 30 (63.3%) in the control group (P = .002). Additionally, at the end of treatment, 23 patients (74.2%) in the MFXD group tested negative for influenza viruses, adenovirus, or mycoplasma pneumoniae, compared with 13 patients (43.3%) in the control group (P = .029).

CONCLUSION

The early combined use of MFXD and antiviral drugs accelerates symptom resolution and virological clearance. MFXD may be a beneficial adjunctive treatment for elderly patients with viral influenza.