Table 3 The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score system for chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNG)

Primary symptom

Epigastric pain

Degree

0 score: None

2 score: Mild pain, does not affect work and life, VAS score 1 to 3

4 score: Moderate pain, affects work and life partly, VAS score 4 to 6

6 score: Severe pain, affects work and life fully, need rest, VAS score 7 to 10

Duration

0 score: None

2 score: Less than 1 hour a day

4 score: 1 to 2 hours a day

6 score: More than 2 hours a day

Total primary symptom scores

Degree score + Duration score

Frequency of epigastric pain

Score = the days of pain attack in a week (for example, a score of 7 indicates pain everyday)

Secondary symptoms

Weakness and lassitude

0 score: No

2 score: Yes

Dry mouth/bitter taste in mouth

0 score: No

2 score: Yes

Loss of appetite

0 score: None

1 score: food intake reduced by 1/3

2 score: food intake reduced by 1/3 to 2/3

3 score: food intake reduced by 2/3

Distention and fullness

0 score: None

1 score: Mild,

2 score: Moderate, does not affect work and life

3 score: Severe, need drug control

Loose stool

0 score: No

2 score: Yes

Belching

0 score: No

2 score: Yes

Total symptom score

Total symptom score = total primary symptom scores + total secondary symptom scores. Frequency of epigastric pain score is calculated independently.