We report a case of acute chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation caused by bacterial pneumonia infection, which was successfully resolved using saikokeishito. An 86-year-old woman with COPD presented with fever. Chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) confirmed bacterial pneumonia and she was admitted. Antibiotic therapy was started, but it had to be discontinued shortly thereafter because the patient developed drug rash. Oral saikokeishito was administered, as an alternative medicine, after which the patient showed dynamic improvements in pneumonia, and other general complaints such as respiratory dysfunction, fever, delirium, and appetite loss.
Saikokeishito is known to trigger various biomedical effects such as stimulation of anti-inflammatory and antipsychotic functions and autoimmune regulation.
Although antibiotic therapy is, without doubt, the most efficient treatment for acute bacterial pneumonia, in cases where antibiotic treatment is not possible, Kampo therapy may be used as an alternative treatment method for improving the condition and other complaints.
In future, more sequential case reports showing the use of Kampo therapy in acute respiratory medicine would be necessary to establish conclusive evidence for the use of this therapy as an alternative treatment method.