Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective (天久鷹央の推理カルテ)

Personality traits often associated

with analytical abilities

are, ironically, difficult to analyze.

The only measurement is the results they produce.

The one thing we do know is

individuals who've been gifted with the power of analysis

find it to be their most exhilarating

source of pleasure.

23RD AUGUST (FRIDAY)

TENIKAI GENERAL HOSPITAL

EMERGENCY EMERGENCY ROOM

Doctor...

please, tell me what's wrong with my baby?

He keeps throwing up.

His vision's all blurry.

And he's been crying about his headaches

and body aches for weeks.

None of the doctors that we saw could figure out a cause.

We'll be getting his test results soon.

For now, you should just try to get some rest.

Okay.

He's stable.

Seems the antiemetic and suppository helped.

Yeah.

Still looking at severe vertigo,

extremity pain,

nausea, headache, and fatigue.

That's a pretty broad range of symptoms.

Could it be autoimmune?

Lupus, maybe?

It sounds like you've done your homework.

But something like that would've been found

by the other doctors already.

That's a good point.

Based on the symptoms that he's presenting,

it could be the result of a congenital gene abnormality

or a rare neurological disorder.

- Ah! - Oh.

His labs came in.

NORMAL VALUES COMMENT APPROVAL

No elevation in his creatine kinase.

TENIKAI GENERAL HOSPITAL RESIDENT PHYSICIAN KONOIKE MAI

And no evidence of rhabdomyolysis, either.

Huh.

So, his labs look totally normal,

but he's complaining of pain all over.

It's just strange.

Hmm.

How's the man with abdominal pain doing?

I'm gonna take a peek at your stomach.

Did you eat anything different than usual

in the past couple of days?

Uh-uh!

We'll try to finish this quickly.

Please bear with us as long as you can.

It just doesn't seem like food poisoning.

Maybe appendicitis?

It's possible, but it could also be

the early stages of gastroenteritis.

We're going to order a CAT scan to confirm.

Let's send him down to radiology

as soon as they have a bed.

Guess all we can do now...is wait.

Yeah.

She's gonna be mad if I'm not on time.

- I gotta go. - 1195, 1194.

1193, 1192, 1191.

Dr. Takanashi, aren't you usually

in Investigative Pathology?

I am, yeah.

So, how come you're working

in the Emergency Department today?

1188, 1187, 1186.

Right now, I'm a helper for hire.

- 1185, 1184. - Huh?

The ER announced that they were overwhelmed

and needed whatever help they could get.

So, I'm on a temporary loan.

The boss' orders.

Wait, your boss is that cute little doctor

who could easily pass as a high schooler, right?

Look, don't ever say that to her face.

You'll put her in a bad mood...

Kotori!

-Ah? -

D... Dr. Takao,

why are you here?

Your shift will be ending in exactly 19 minutes

and 24 seconds.

So, I came to collect you.

Um...to collect me?

Sorry, but are you Dr. Takao Ameku?

Ah! Who are you?

I'm a first-year resident, Mai Konoike.

I'm honored to work with you, Dr. Ameku.

Please never refer to me as Dr. Ameku.

Um?

I'm not the only Dr. Ameku at this hospital.

My grandfather was the founder, after all.

In that case, can I call you Dr. Takao?

And you can call me by my first name, too!

Hm.

By the way, why did you call Dr. Takanashi "Kotori?"

I'll explain.

-Look there. - Hm?

"Takanashi" means "no hawks,"

but it's written as "little birds at play."

My name has the kanji for hawk.

So, there's a hawk around, and he's the little bird

who can't play, the kotori.

Aw, I love that, hilarious.

It's not that good.

But it's just so ironic!

You're tall, but your name's "little bird."

You, uh, just went ahead and said it, huh?

Am I allowed to call you Dr. Kotori, too?

No, you absolutely can't.

Why do you care? Just hurry up.

18.47 minutes.

I'm sorry, but I still have work I need to get done here.

So what? Just get the doctor

on night shift to take over.

But two patients don't have a proper diagnosis yet.

Oh, geez.

Yeah? So?

I examined them, so I feel responsible

for finding a diagnosis.

Fine, then. So, all you need is a diagnosis, right?

U-uh?

-Isn't there something we can do? -

Just wondering.

Are you two always like this?

Kinda, yeah.

It's nice that you're so close.

Come on, why would you...

- - Uh? Huh?

Dr. Takao?

Hmm.

Wh-what?

Hm.

Hi, exam time.

Uh, uh-huh.

I'm sorry, but who is this person?

She's director of the Department

of Investigative Pathology.

The director?

Hm!

He has Hypervitaminosis A.

VERTIGO NAUSEA + VOMITING

Headache, nausea, vomiting,

general fatigue, myalgia,

cheilitis, and desquamation.

With additional signs of papilledema

due to elevated intracranial pressure.

Vitamin A is fat soluble,

which means it can just accumulate inside your body

causing body aches, changes to the skin,

and dangerously elevated intracranial pressure.

As a result, patients often suffer from headaches,

nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

But what caused this to happen?

His worsening eyesight.

Ah?

You've been making your son eat blueberry snacks

and vitamin A supplements, correct?

Y-Yes.

I was told they'd help his eyesight.

But since his vision wasn't improving

like you'd hoped, you started going over

the recommended amount.

Am I wrong?

I, uh...that's correct.

That's the original cause.

Blueberries are packed

with anthocyanins and vitamin A,

which is said to improve blood flow to the retinas.

Ignoring the recommended dosage is what caused this.

And for the record, it wouldn't have helped.

Giving him an enormous amount of vitamin A

won't make his eyesight any better.

Always follow the instructions.

Stop giving him the vitamins

and he'll recover quickly.