Infectious Endocarditis With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Cerebral Infarction in an Atopic Dermatitis Patient During Unsanitary Cupping Therapy

A 23-year-old man with a history of untreated atopic dermatitis (AD) presented with a headache and fever. The patient history revealed that he purchased a medical cupping kit on the internet and performed cupping therapy at the flexion of the right elbow joint without disinfecting. Brain computed tomography revealed subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right frontal sulcus, and brain magnetic resonance imaging indicated a small cerebral infarction. Cardiac ultrasonography revealed a mobile cord-shaped echo in the posterior apex of the mitral valve, which was later diagnosed as infectious endocarditis (IE). This case of IE in a patient with untreated AD was caused by a skin infection due to unsanitary cupping therapy.