The Journal of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회지)

The Society of Korean Medicine (대한한의학회)
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Recovery of an Elderly Kwashiorkor Patient by Korean Medicine: A Case Report

  • Jeon, Cheon-Hoo (Department of Internal Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University) ;
  • Kim, Sul-Ki (Department of Internal Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Daejeon University) ;
  • Son, Chang-Gue (Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College in Daejeon University)
  • Received : 2021.02.03
  • Accepted : 2021.02.18
  • Published : 2021.03.01
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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

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Oriental Medicine R&D Project (NRF-2018R1A6A1A03025221).

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