A main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is fatigue which continues for more than 6 months and does not improve with rest, leading to a marked decrease in quality of life. Other problems include fever, sleep disorder, and headache. Etiologically, a preceding viral infection, immunological disorder, and changes in the central nervous system, especially in hippocampus have been reported. However, the precise pathogenesis of CFS has not been elucidated, and neither diagnostic markers nor effective treatments have yet to be discovered. Here, we report a case of CFS, successfully treated with Kampo medicines.
The patient was a 16-year-old high school student, who had received medical therapy for one year under the diagnosis of CFS. His chief complaint was a continuing fever and strong malaise after influenza infection. At his visit to our outpatient clinic, we confirmed that his symptoms met the criteria for CFS. A combination treatment with Kampo medicine (sanoshashinto) and duloxetine improved his malaise and fatigue in 4 weeks, but fever and anorexia remained. The addition of hochuekkito to the combination dramatically ameliorated his symptoms. This case suggests that Kampo medicines would contribute to the effective treatment of CFS, which is refractory to Western medicines.

No abstract available.

Calcium intake may play an important role on bone health. The recent national nutritional survey in Japan revealed the gradual decrease in calcium intake to around 480 mg/day. In addition, the patients with low level of vitamin D become too large in proportion. The present perspective proposes to increase calcium intake in Asian population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Calcium* ; Far East* ; Humans ; Japan ; Nutrition Surveys ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*