title: [Complementary treatment of pneumonia with pleural effusion].
abstract: A 43-year-old male patient was diagnosed with acute sinistral pleuropneumonia and a pronounced thoracic pain syndrome. Despite of his painful ailments the patient refused antibiotic treatment. A complementary therapy comprising physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, herbal therapy and vitamin C, cupping and QiGong was initiated. A cantharidin blister was applied topically to the left thorax in order to treat the pain syndrome. The multimodal CAM treatment resulted in a rapid clinical and x-ray resolution of pneumonia, and cantharidin treatment effectively relieved pain. The case and the potential of topical cantharidin in pain syndromes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Kliniken Essen-Mitte/Knappschafts-Krankenhaus, Innere Medizin V. Naturheikunde und Integrative Medizin, Essen, Deutschland [corrected] thomas.rampp@uni-essen.de
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rampp
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michalsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000628:therapy*; D011001:Pleuropneumonia / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome