Usefulness of shosaikoto for pneumonia in combination with antibiotics

Aim: The value of Kampo medicine for the treatment of pneumonia is unclear. The aim of our study is to investigate the usefulness of shosaikoto for pneumonia in combination with antibiotics. Methods: We retrospectively compared 39 cases treated only with Western medicine, including antibiotics (conventional group), with 22 cases treated with Western medicine, including antibiotics, and shosaikoto (combination group). We evaluated the duration of antibiotic treatment after admission, the febrile period, and the duration of oxygen treatment. Results: The duration of antibiotic treatment was significantly shorter in the combination group (72.25 days) than in the conventional group (8.46 +/- 2.28 days; P<0.05), and the febrile period was also significantly shorter in the combination group (2.95 +/- 0.92 days) than in the conventional group (4.09 +/- 2.08 days; P <0.05). The duration of oxygen treatment was not shorter in the combination group (3.85 +/- 1.77 days) than in the conventional group (4.11 +/- 2.25 days; P = 0.951). Conclusion: This study suggests that combination therapy with shosaikoto and antibiotics is useful for bacterial pneumonia.