Two Case Reports of Elderly Patients with Anorexia: the Importance of Confirming Medication and a Potential Infectious Disease

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to put clinical emphasis on the importance of considering medical precautions, such as drug history and a possible infection, when treating elderly patients. Methods: We closely observed two elderly female patients aged 79 and 76 who had been hospitalized for the treatment of anorexia at the Department of Hepato-Hemopoietic System, Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital in April 2018 for 5 and 9 days, respectively. Results: Through an elaborate medical investigation including a detailed inquiry and laboratory examinations, modifying some drugs and treating a urinary tract infection were preferentially needed to treat these two patients. In the first case, her overall symptoms, including anorexia, were improved after taking Dansambohyeol-tang combined with three types of antacids adjusted by holding 10 drugs in total, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that mainly causing chronic gastric ulcer. In the second case, the urinary tract infection was detected by blood test and urine analysis during the hospitalization period. After taking Geummogpaljeong-san and antibiotics for the treatment of the infection, the chief complaints including anorexia and the negative reaction to nitrite in the urinary analysis were improved. Conclusion: Considering the clinical precautions, including medications and infection possibility, is important especially when treating elderly patients. Keywords: anorexia, elderly, medication, infection