Home›Pediatrics› Lianhua Qingwen plus oseltamivir matches oseltamivir alone for pediatric influenza recovery
Lianhua Qingwen plus oseltamivir matches oseltamivir alone for pediatric influenza recoveryLianhua Qingwen Shows Specific Benefits for Children with Influenza
Pharmaceutical biologyPublished October 29, 2026Study authors: Xue Fengxia, Li Jialin, Hu Siyuan, Zhong Chengliang, Feng Ziwei, Chen Zhu, Zhang Baoqing, Ma Chunyin…PubMed ↗DOI ↗Editorial oversight: Dr. Sofia Müller, MD · Lifespan & Whole-Person Care
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Key Takeaway
Consider Lianhua Qingwen plus oseltamivir as comparable to oseltamivir alone for recovery time in pediatric influenza.
This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, positive parallel-controlled trial enrolled 520 children aged 3 to 14 years with influenza. Participants received either Lianhua Qingwen plus oseltamivir placebo or oseltamivir plus Lianhua Qingwen placebo. The primary outcome was clinical recovery time.
Median clinical recovery time was 5 days in both groups, with similar clinical recovery rates (71.5% vs 71.2%) and an HR of 1.04 (95% CI 0.84-1.29; one-sided p < 0.025). The authors describe Lianhua Qingwen as non-inferior to oseltamivir for clinical recovery time.
Several secondary outcomes favored Lianhua Qingwen: time to defervescence was shorter (24 h vs 30 h; p < 0.05), and improvement rates were higher for cough (56.9% vs 45.5%; p < 0.05) and sore throat (90.9% vs 74.2%; p < 0.05).
Adverse event incidence was similar between groups, and no severe or critical influenza occurred in the Lianhua Qingwen group. Discontinuations and overall tolerability were not reported.
Key limitations include limited high-quality evidence on Lianhua Qingwen for treating influenza in children. Follow-up duration and funding or conflicts of interest were not reported. The data support a possible role for Lianhua Qingwen alongside oseltamivir in pediatric influenza, particularly for defervescence and upper respiratory symptoms, but should be weighed against the stated evidence limitations.
How this fits prior evidence
This pediatric influenza trial extends prior coverage of influenza prevention and virology in this publication. Earlier items addressed LAIV and pneumococcal density at 14 days, recombinant vaccine immunogenicity in adults with severe obesity, and low influenza vaccination among Chinese health care workers (27%). Those findings concerned vaccination and transmission dynamics rather than antiviral or adjunctive treatment. The present trial instead addresses a treatment gap in children aged 3 to 14 years, comparing Lianhua Qingwen plus oseltamivir with oseltamivir alone. It does not confirm or contrast the prior vaccine findings directly, but adds randomized pediatric treatment data to a coverage base that has focused largely on prevention.
Researchers conducted a multicenter trial involving 520 children between the ages of 3 and 14 who were diagnosed with influenza. The study compared the effectiveness of a traditional treatment called Lianhua Qingwen against the standard medication oseltamivir.
While both treatments resulted in similar overall clinical recovery times, the Lianhua Qingwen group showed specific improvements in certain symptoms. Children receiving Lianhua Qingwen had a shorter time to defervescence, meaning their fevers broke faster. Additionally, there were higher improvement rates for cough and sore throat symptoms compared to the group receiving oseltamivir.
Safety data showed that the number of adverse events was similar in both groups, and no severe or critical cases occurred in the Lianhua Qingwen group. However, it is important to note that there is currently limited high-quality evidence regarding Lianhua Qingwen for treating influenza in children. Because the evidence is still limited, patients should consult with a healthcare provider to determine the best treatment plan for their child.
What this means for you:
Lianhua Qingwen may help children clear fevers and improve coughs faster than oseltamivir, but more evidence is needed.
Common questions
Is Lianhua Qingwen safe for children with the flu?
In this study of 520 children, the number of adverse events was similar between the Lianhua Qingwen and oseltamivir groups. No severe or critical influenza cases occurred in the group receiving Lianhua Qingwen. However, because there is limited high-quality evidence for this treatment in children, you should talk to a doctor about safety and suitability for your child.
How does Lianhua Qingwen compare to oseltamivir for flu symptoms?
Both treatments showed similar overall clinical recovery times. However, children taking Lianhua Qingwen had a shorter time to defervescence (24 hours versus 30 hours). They also showed higher improvement rates for cough (56.9% vs 45.5%) and sore throat (90.9% vs 74.2%) compared to those taking oseltamivir.
What are the main findings for children with influenza?
The study found that while both treatments were similar for total recovery time, Lianhua Qingwen showed specific benefits for certain symptoms. It helped children clear fevers faster and showed higher improvement rates for cough and sore throat. Because evidence is still limited, these results should be discussed with a medical professional.
CONTEXT: High-quality evidence on Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW) for treating influenza in children remains limited.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of LHQW in children aged 3-14 years with influenza, compared with oseltamivir.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, positive parallel-controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either LHQW + oseltamivir placebo or oseltamivir + LHQW placebo. The primary outcome was clinical recovery time. Secondary outcomes included time to defervescence, symptom scores on the Canadian Acute Respiratory Illness and Flu Scale, the incidence of complications and severe/critical influenza, and the improvement rates for individual influenza symptoms. Safety outcomes were assessed based on adverse events.
RESULTS: A total of 520 participants were randomized (260 per group). Baseline characteristics were comparable. Median clinical recovery time was 5 days in both groups, with similar clinical recovery rates (71.5% 71.2%; HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 0.84-1.29; one-sided < 0.025). Median time to defervescence was shorter with LHQW (24 h 30 h, < 0.05). LHQW showed higher improvement rates for cough (56.9% 45.5%) and sore throat (90.9% 74.2%) (both < 0.05). No severe or critical influenza occurred in the LHQW group. Adverse events incidence was similar between groups ( > 0.05).
DISCUSSION: LHQW may offer a safe and effective alternative to oseltamivir for pediatric influenza, with particular benefits for defervescence, cough, and sore throat.
CONCLUSIONS: LHQW was non-inferior to oseltamivir in clinical recovery time and resulted in faster defervescence and greater improvement in cough and sore throat, with comparable safety.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR1900028390 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Dec. 20, 2019).
