Acute pharyngitis belongs to the category of "acute throat impediment" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which has a high incidence and is easy to recur. In clinical practice of TCM, Chinese patent medicines with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and relieving pain are widely used in the treatment of acute pharyngitis. These medicines have the advantages of definite efficacy, low side effects, and low risk of developing drug resistance. However, at present, there are no standardized clinical diagnostic and therapeutic evaluation norms for acute pharyngitis in TCM, which has hindered the application of TCM in the prevention and treatment of acute pharyngitis and the development of new TCM preparations. Therefore, the China Association of Chinese Medicine initiated this expert consensus, which was led the formulation by Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. This expert consensus integrates the current best evidence and extensive clinical expert experience from the front line, covering seven aspects: applicable scope, diagnosis in both Chinese and Western medicine, syndrome classification and evaluation scales, basis for efficacy evaluation, and time for efficacy evaluation. It has formed 8 types of TCM syndromes for acute pharyngitis, as well as the diagnostic criteria, syndrome classification and evaluation scales, evaluation basis for efficacy, and scoring standards for syndromes and diseases. This expert consensus can be used to standardize the diagnosis of the TCM syndromes of acute pharyngitis, as well as the core indicators and evaluation methods for syndrome and disease efficacy, with the aim of providing references for clinical practice and scientific research on acute pharyngitis.
To further standardize the prevention and treatment of acute pharyngitis in China, both in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, and to promote the standardized application of TCM, antipyretic and analgesic drugs, antibiotics, and glucocorticoids in the prevention and treatment of acute pharyngitis, the China Association of Chinese Medicine has initiated a project. The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, and Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences are leading the effort. Based on the WHO guidelines for guideline development, the guiding principles for the formulation and revision of clinical practice guidelines in China, and the technical specifications for the development of clinical application guidelines for the combined prevention and treatment of TCM and Western medicine, the "Clinical application guidelines for the combined prevention and treatment of acute pharyngitis with TCM and Western medicine" are to be formulated. This protocol aims to elaborate on the background of the guidelines, the composition of the working group, the construction of clinical questions, the acquisition and quality evaluation of the evidence, and the formation of recommendations.
Acute pharyngitis is a common respiratory disease. The combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has been proven effective in alleviating pharyngeal pain and systemic symptoms, as well as reducing the use of antibiotics. However, standardized clinical practice guideline was lacking. To address this, the Ear, Nose and Throat Medicines Research Professional Committee of the China Association of Chinese Medicine, in collaboration with over 20 domestic hospitals, has formed a multidisciplinary expert team of both Chinese and Western medical practitioners. Following the principles, methods, and steps of evidence-based guideline development, we identified clinical issues (three background questions and seven clinical questions) through literature review and expert consensus. Based on existing evidence-based guidelines at domestic and overseas, and the results of systematic reviews/meta-analyses, they considered the quality of evidence, weighed the pros and cons of intervention measures, and took into account patient preferences and values. Through the Delphi expert consensus meeting, we formulated 27 recommendations covering the assessment, laboratory and imaging tests, identification of danger signals, and both Chinese and Western medical treatment and prevention measures for acute pharyngitis.