[A case of chronic lower respiratory tract infection in which the traditional herbal medicine Hochuekkito was effective to prevent exacerbation].

A thin, 63-year-old man was receiving low-dose macrolide therapy for a diagnosis of chronic lower respiratory tract infection, but frequent exacerbations due to Streptococcus pneumoniae were observed. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed bronchiectasis and small centrilobular nodules in the right lower lobe. He had previously had several episodes of exacerbation of chronic lower respiratory tract infection, for which he had received antibiotic treatments (oral fluoroquinolones or intravenous cephems). However, he continued to experience recurrent exacerbations, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also isolated from his sputum. To improve his general condition, Hochuekkito, a herbal medicine, was initiated. His body weight and serum albumin level gradually increased, and after 6 months of administration, neither S. pneumoniae nor P. aeruginosa were isolated from his