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The pulse of children is characterized by a full and complete quality, with floating (superficial) and sunken (deep) pulses taking precedence; the former indicates exterior conditions, while the latter indicates interior conditions, allowing one to ascertain the source of the pathogen. Regarding variations in pulse size, slippery/rough, deficiency/excess, and slow/rapid qualities, one should refer to the standards for adults to examine the syndrome and determine treatment.

Children aged one to six are called "yinghai" (infants), and their condition is assessed by observing the three sections of the finger vein. Those aged seven to eight are called "chen" (children losing baby teeth), and those aged nine to ten are called "tiao" (children with hanging hair); only at this age can one use a single finger to palpate the Cun, Guan, and Chi positions of the radial artery. A normal healthy state is indicated by 7-8 beats per respiratory cycle. For children aged eleven to fourteen, referred to as "tong," a rate of 5-6 beats per respiratory cycle is considered normal. A floating and rapid pulse often indicates infantile epilepsy or palpitations caused by milk retention; a deficient, soft, and slow pulse suggests slow convulsions and spasms; a tight and solid pulse indicates wind-induced epilepsy; a deep and wiry pulse points to food stagnation; a hidden and knotted pulse signifies damage from food; and a soft and thin pulse indicates parasitic malnutrition. Generally, the principles for judging floating, sunken, slow, and rapid pulses are the same as those for adults. However, one must beware of the Cu (hasty), Jie (intermittent), Dai (moderate), and San (scattered) pulses; details can be found in Volume 5 regarding pediatrics.

For carbuncles and sores (external suppurative infections), a rapid pulse indicates progression. Floating pulses belong to Yang, and sunken pulses belong to Yin. If the pulse is floating and rapid but the patient does not feel feverish, instead experiencing an invasion of aversion to cold, and if the painful area is known, moxibustion or acupuncture should be applied immediately. If the pulse is surging and rapid, the disease is advancing, and pus is likely to form and discharge. If the pulse is slippery, solid, tight, or hasty, internal resolution may be possible through medication. For cases suitable for the "supporting the interior" method, the pulse is typically deficient, soft, slow, or empty, rough, or minute; this approach is also appropriate after ulceration. A long and slow pulse indicates ease of treatment, whereas a short and scattered pulse indicates danger. The appearance of Jie, Cu, or Dai pulses implies certain death.

If the pulse is floating, rapid, and slightly wiry, the patient should experience fever but instead feels aversion to cold, or experiences chest irritability without knowing the specific pain location, or knows the pain location; these are all signs of developing carbuncles or sores, requiring immediate moxibustion or acupuncture. If the pulse is floating and rapid, accompanied by fever and pain, it belongs to the Yang category and is easy to treat. If the pulse is not rapid, is sunken and minute, and there is no pain, it belongs to the Yin category and is difficult to treat. Furthermore, a floating pulse indicates the pathogen is in the exterior, a sunken pulse indicates it is in the interior, and neither floating nor sunken indicates it is in the meridians. For various sores, a surging and rapid pulse indicates that pus has formed internally. If the sore has not yet ulcerated and the pulse is slippery, solid, rapid, or hasty, purgative methods may be used. If the sore is about to ulcerate or has already ulcerated, and the pulse is deficient, soft, weak, slow, rough, empty, or minute, tonifying and supporting the interior methods are appropriate. A long and slow pulse indicates ease of treatment due to strong Stomach Qi; a short, scattered, knotted, or moderate pulse indicates danger due to deficient Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Generally, before ulceration, Yang-type pulses are expected; after ulceration, Yin-type pulses are expected, ensuring harmony between symptoms and pulse. Additionally, a tight pulse indicates stagnation and obstruction of Qi and Blood, hence tightness correlates with severe pain. An empty (Kou) pulse indicates blood loss; its appearance after ulceration is auspicious. A hasty (Cu) pulse before ulceration indicates heat accumulation in the interior, while after ulceration, it indicates decline of Qi.