RESUMO
This study was aimed to explore an effect evaluation method of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of viral pneumonia. Association rules were used to analyze the therapeutic effect of heat, stagnation, and phlegm related syndromes from 297 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia children before and after treatment. The results showed that through the comparison of the frequent itemset of heat, stagnation, and phlegm related syn-dromes, in part of the time, the support degree of the experimental group was obviously lower than that in the con-trol group (P < 0.05). The frequent itemset of the experimental group disappeared 1~3 d earlier than the control group, which indicated the effect in the experimental group was better than the control group. It was concluded that association rules can be used for evaluating therapeutic effect of TCM in treatment of viral pneumonia. The effect evaluation method based on association rules of symptoms is more in line with the syndrome differentiation of TCM.