<b>A Case of Recurrent Pneumonia Successfully Treated with Jiinshihoto</b> / 日本東洋医学雑誌

ABSTRACT

A 56-year-old woman visited our hospital with a persistent fever of 38 °C. Chest radiography and plain computed tomography (CT) showed scattered infiltrative shadows in both lung fields. She was diagnosed as having pneumonia and received antimicrobial therapy. Subsequently, the pneumonia was improved and defervescence was observed. Although pneumonia appeared 1 and 5 months later, antimicrobial therapy again recovered the patient's condition. At that point, we noticed from the patient's medical history that she had developed pneumonia 2—3 times a year over the past 4 years. Therefore, we prescribed low-dose macrolide therapy and an expectorant as prophylactic treatment. However, she developed pneumonia again after 4 months, but recovered with antibiotics.<br>Jiinshihoto was administered, because the pneumonia repeated over short periods. Subsequently, no pneumonia developed during the 1.5 years following Jiinshihoto administration. In Japan's aging society, death due to pneumonia has increased and will increase. In many patients, antimicrobial therapy alone results in recurrent pneumonia despite of temporary improvement. Furthermore, because it is important to prevent the development of pneumonia, this case is considered of value in Japan, as Jiinshihoto proved effective in preventing recurrent pneumonia.