Recovery of an Elderly Kwashiorkor Patient by Korean Medicine: A Case Report

Article information

J Korean Med. 2021;42(1):129-135

Publication date (electronic) : 2021 March 01

doi : https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.21010

Cheon-Hoo Jeon ¹

, Sul-Ki Kim ¹

, Chang-Gue Son ²^,

¹Department of Internal Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University

²Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University

Correspondence to: Chang-Gue Son, Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, Daedeokdae-ro 176 beon-gil 75, Seo-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-42-484-6484, Fax: +82-42-470-9005, E-mail: ckson@dju.ac.kr

Received 2021 February 3; Revised 2021 February 16; Accepted 2021 February 18.

Abstract

Objectives

The present study reports case of an elderly kwashiorkor patient who was treated with Korean Medicine.

Methods

A 68-year-old female patient with weight loss, general weakness, chills, anorexia, and dizziness after over 100 episodes of diarrhea visited the hospital. Blood tests showed hypoalbuminemia and anemia, and ultrasonography revealed fatty liver disease. The patient was diagnosed with kwashiorkor, and her symptom differentiation was Yang deficiency followed by Both Qi-Blood deficiency. Sayeok-Tang, Soshiho-Tang, Insamyangyeong-Tang, and Gongjin-Dan, herbal drugs, were given to the patient during 40 days of hospitalization.

Results

After 40 days of hospitalization, her symptoms were reduced, and the blood test results improved.

Conclusion

This case presents the therapeutic potential of Korean medicine in the treatment of kwashiorkor.

Keywords: Kwashiorkor; Protein-energy malnutrition; Korean medicine; Case report

Fig. 1

Summary of clinical outcome and treatment course.

Table 1

Composition of Drugs

Table 2

Course of Laboratory Test Results

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