OBJECTIVE  To observe the clinical efficacy of Erlong Zhifei Decoction combined with western medicine in the treatment of patients with secretory otitis media after novel coronavirus infection and its influence on inflammatory cytokines.

  METHODS  A total of 100 patients with secretory otitis media after novel coronavirus infection who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group with 50 cases each. The control group was treated with azithromycin capsules and eucalyptus acid enteric coated soft capsules orally, and the treatment group was given TCM pieces, Erlong Zhifei Decoction, on the basis of the control group. The course of treatment for both groups was 2 weeks. TCM syndrome scores, clinical efficacy, cytokines Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18), Caspase-1 activity and safety indicators were observed before and after treatment.

  RESULTS  After treatment, the scores of TCM syndromes in the two groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the treatment group was better than the control group in terms of improving the sensation of tightness and swelling in the ear, tinnitus, nasal congestion, headache, tympanic membrane examination and total score (P<0.05); the TCM clinical curative effect of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P<0.05); the levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and Caspase-1 activity in the two groups were significantly reduced (P<0.01), among which the reduction in the level of IL-18 and Caspase-1 activity in the treatment group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). During the treatment, no obvious adverse reaction occurred in the two groups of patients.

  CONCLUSION  Erlong Zhifei Decoction combined with western medicine can relieve the symptoms of patients with secretory otitis media after novel coronavirus infection, and reduce the damage of inflammatory cytokines to middle ear tissue and the swelling of eustachian tube lumen mucosa.