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Pediatric dysentery syndromes are mostly caused by external contraction of summerheat-dampness and internal injury from raw or cold food. Injury to the Qi results in white-colored stool, as the Lung and Large Intestine are exterior-interiorly related. Injury to the Blood results in red-colored stool, as the Heart and Small Intestine are exterior-interiorly related. "Tenesmus" (Li Ji) refers to urgent abdominal pain and discomfort; "heaviness in the rectum" (Hou Zhong) refers to frequent defecation with a bearing-down sensation. Ancient and modern medical texts refer to this condition as "Zhi Xia" (Stagnant Downward Flow) due to intestinal blockage and difficulty in defecation. The symptoms include tenesmus and heaviness in the rectum, with stool containing pus or blood, presenting five colors, or being predominantly red-purple; it may be painful or painless, accompanied by vomiting or not, fever or chills. The Yin-Yang and Deficiency-Excess nature of this syndrome must be carefully examined to avoid errors, integrating pulse diagnosis with symptom assessment. Fever, thirst, a rapid and forceful pulse, and ability to eat indicate Heat; cool body temperature, absence of thirst, a deep and weak pulse, and inability to eat indicate Cold. Dysentery patients who can eat are easy to treat; those who cannot eat are difficult to treat. Prolonged pain damages the Spleen and Stomach, causing Central Qi to sink, leading to rectal prolapse. Upward reversal of heat-toxin causes immediate vomiting after eating and loss of appetite, known as "Jin Kou Li" (Clamped-Mouth Dysentery). Chronic dysentery injuring Yin and failing Kidney Qi leads to redness and swelling of both knees, known as "He Xi Feng" (Crane-Knee Wind). Untreated dysentery turning into five-color discharge indicates failure of all five Zang organs; stool may resemble smoke-dust water or roof-leak water, the anus may become loose like a bamboo tube, or discharge may resemble fish glue. Accompanied by chest fullness, shortness of breath, irritability, restlessness, extreme thirst, and a ruddy face resembling cinnabar, these are incurable conditions. Therefore, treating dysentery requires distinguishing between Cold Dysentery, Heat Dysentery, Seasonal Dysentery, Clamped-Mouth Dysentery, Resting Dysentery, and Bloody Dysentery, rather than lumping them all under the general term "Dysentery." Hence, this explanation on Dysentery is composed.

Children suffering from stomach injury due to cold, with chronic dysentery that does not resolve, or those with originally deficient organ Qi attacked by wind-cold, damaging the Spleen and Stomach, will experience borborygmus and severe cutting pain during dysentery episodes, bluish-white complexion and lips, and although extremely thirsty, they strongly prefer hot drinks. This is a pattern of Interior Cold and Deficiency. For early-stage Cold Dysentery, ancient methods primarily recommend Lizhong Tang (Cinnamon Twig and Atractylodes Decoction), containing Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma), and Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root). For long-standing Cold Dysentery, ancient methods recommend Zhenren Yangzang Tang (True Man's Nourishing the Viscera Decoction), containing Renshen (Ginseng Radix), Tu Chao Baizhu (Earth-fried Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Wei Muxiang (Baked Aucklandiae Radix), Tu Chao Danggui (Earth-fried Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Chao Baishao (Fried White Peony Root), Rougui (Cinnamon Bark), Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root), Mi Zhi Yingsuke (Honey-fried Poppy Shell), Hezi Rou Mian Wei Qu He (Areca Seed Flesh Baked in Flour with Core Removed), and Wei Rouguo (Baked Myristica Seed), using Wumei (Mume Fruit) as a guide.

[Chen Shouzhen's Note:] At the onset of dysentery, Excess-Heat and Excess-Stagnation are easy to identify and treat. However, cases where deficiency constitution and cold-stagnation form dysentery are often overlooked because Yin-patterns develop slowly. One must not nurture the tiger only to invite disaster. The prescription uses Guang Chenpi (Broad-Leaved Tangerine Peel) 1.5 qian, Jiu Chao Chishao (Wine-fried Red Peony Root) 1 qian, Chen Songluo Cha Chao Maiya (Aged Songluo Tea-fried Barley Sprout) 8 fen, Danggui Shen (Body of Angelicae Sinensis Radix) 8 fen, Wei Muxiang (Baked Aucklandiae Radix) 1 qian, Chao Baishao (Fried White Peony Root) 8 fen, Wei Rouguo (Baked Myristica Seed) 5 fen, Chao Kourén (Fried Cardamomi Fructus Rotundus) 5 fen, Zhigancao (Prepared Licorice Root) 5 fen, using Bei Ganjiang (Northern Dried Ginger) 3 slices as a guide.