ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of Chinese materia medica on immune intervention of infantile recurrent respiratory tract infection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty-one children of recurrent respiratory tract infection were randomly divided into two groups: therapy group was treated with oral Chinese materia medica (b. i. d), control group was only treated with oral carboxymethyl liquor (< 4 years, 3 mL; 4-7 years, 5 mL; > 7 years, 7 mL, t. i. d). The change of IL-12,TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-13, IL-6 and IL-4 in different time were observed and analyzes.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the control group, the level of IL-12 and IL-2 was significantly increased after treatment of oral Chinese materia medica (P < 0.01), however, the level of TNF-alpha, IL-13, IL-4, and IL-6 was decreased after treatment (P < 0.01). During one years follow-up study, the frequency of respiratory infection every year of therapy group was significantly decreased than that of control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese materia medica could prevent infantile recurrent respiratory tract infection effectively, increase humoral immunity function and ensure normal growth in children.</p>