Internal medicine
-
We herein report the first case of a fever induced by favipiravir, a potential coronavirus disease 2019 therapeutic drug. An 82-year-old man diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia was transferred to our hospital following a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction test. He was treated with compassionate use of favipiravir. ⋯ We diagnosed his fever as being favipiravir-induced. The fever resolved a few days after favipiravir discontinuation, demonstrating the accuracy of the diagnosis. This case revealed that favipiravir can induce a fever.
-
Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency (IAD) is a cause of adrenal insufficiency (AI), which shows impaired secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) with the preserved secretion of other anterior pituitary gland hormones. We herein report a case of IAD complicated by chronic thyroiditis presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms without other signs indicative of AI that showed complete improvement of the cognitive function after the administration of corticosteroids. The clinical features of our case may be confused with autoimmune encephalopathies (AEs); however, IAD should be strictly differentiated from AEs, as it requires permanent hormone replacement without addition of immunosuppressive agents.
-
Objective Acute abdominal pain (AAP) of diverse etiology is a common chief complaint of patients who present to the emergency department (ED). AAP may pose a diagnostic challenge to physicians in training. We aimed to evaluate whether or not resident trainee doctors examine patients presenting with AAP in a Japanese acute-care hospital following Kendall's diagnostic algorithm. ⋯ Abdominal ultrasonography is one of the recommended examinations for patients with signs of peritoneal irritation, shock or toxic appearance, right lower-quadrant pain, and left upper- or lower-quadrant pain, but the rates were relatively low at 25.0%, 34.4%, 31.8%, and 26.7%, respectively. Conclusion Abdominal ultrasonography required by Kendall's diagnostic algorithm was not performed appropriately in patients with symptoms and signs of peritonitis, shock or toxic appearance, right lower-quadrant pain, and left upper- or lower-quadrant pain or in female patients by resident trainees. Our findings underscore the importance of providing resident doctors with focused training concerning ultrasonography by attending physicians.
-
Objective In the medical treatment of Graves' disease, we sometimes encounter patients who gain weight after the onset of the disease. To estimate the energy required during the course of treatment when hyperthyroidism ameliorates, we measured the resting energy expenditure (REE) and body composition in patients with Graves' disease before and during treatment in the short-term. Methods Twenty patients with newly diagnosed Graves' disease were enrolled, and our REE data of 19 healthy volunteers were used. ⋯ The decline was evident as early as one month after treatment. The REE after treatment was lower than in healthy volunteers, which may lead to weight gain. These data suggest that appropriate nutritional guidance is necessary with short-term treatment before the body weight normalizes in order to prevent an overweight condition and the emergence of metabolic disorders.
-
Recently, severe cases of infection due to hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumonia (hmKP) have been reported in Japan. The Amami Islands in Japan are also endemic regions for Strongyloides stercoralis. Disseminated strongyloidiasis strain often causes severe enterobacteria infection; however, whether or not chronic strongyloidiasis induces it remains unclear. ⋯ He died on the seventh hospital day. Strongyloides stercoralis were only found around the polyp in the cecum. Chronic strongyloidiasis can also induce severe infection due to enterobacteria, especially hypervirulent pathogens like hmKP, through the induction of mucosal rupture.