Homeopathy & Recurrent Pneumonia...
Homeopathy & Recurrent Pneumonia...
Insomnia, and Facial Tics in a Five-Year-Old Male with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Cat Eye (Schmid-Fraccaro) Syndrome.
Abstract
Multiple pharmacologic interventions are detrimental to children due to the anti-health effects they can exert including influencing and disrupting delicate microbiotal symbiosis. This case outlines a lifetime dependence on antibiotics, steroids, and ventolin in a five-year-old Australian boy reversed after treatment with classical homeopathy, in accordance with ‘direction of cure’ theory.
Classical homeopathy may be considered as a potential therapeutic modality in chronic recurrent pathologies, and controlled studies are required to establish the extent to which it may decrease reliance upon pharmacological treatments and associated costs.
Keywords
Pneumonia, insomnia, facial tics, homeopathic therapy, case report.
First published by Hpathy (online) 21 May 2023 as part of a Presentation by the International Academy of Classical Homeopathy (IACH), Greece.
Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is defined as a lifelong condition which impairs an individual’s social skills and autonomy, having the core features of persisting deficits of social communication and interaction, restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests, and activities, usually appearing before 3 years of age. ‘Spectrum’ describes varied symptomatology ranging from high functioning to extremely afflicted individuals who require lifelong support and care
.Compounded by neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, and somatic comorbidities
ASD causation is complex and mostly genetic, with the Deleted-In-Autism-1 (DIA1) gene aetiologically implicated. Although ASD epigenetic mechanisms are not yet fully understood, genome-wide alterations and dysregulation point to lowered DNA methylation and subsequent inactivation of X chromosomes in the frontal lobe, temporal cortex, cerebellum, and prefrontal cortex regions of the brain.Worldwide, rates of ASD are rising sharply. In Australia ASD increases faster than any other disability
with 205,200 people diagnosed in 2018 – a 25% increase from 2015. Northern Ireland ASD prevalence has quadrupled in a decade with rates in eleven – to thirteen-year-old children now 1 in 17.Cat Eye (Schmid-Fraccaro) Syndrome (CES) is a rare genetic syndrome caused by a partial tetrasomy of chromosome 22. With an incidence of 1 in 150 000
it manifests as multiple malformations involving the eyes, ears, cardiac, anorectal, and urogenital systems, with congenital heart defects present in half of CES individuals.Congenital heart defects are the most common of all birth defects, with rates of 1 in 150. A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), with overall incidence of 2-3 per 1000, is a common congenital heart defect13.
Pneumonia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world in children under five years of age. In the developed world the burden of disease is substantial with significant healthcare-associated costs
.Children with recurrent pneumonia often have cardiopulmonary comorbidities
. Tanoue & Oda found correlation between ASD incidence and recurrent bouts of pneumonia and bronchiolitis. Sleep disturbance and deprivation, particularly insomnia, is common and often associated with daytime behavioural problems in children with ASD, and increased levels of parental stress.Tics, often a feature in ASD
, resemble normal movements which occur repetitively with exaggerated intensity and increased frequency. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome is the most prevalent primary tic disorder.Case report
Harry, a five-year-old Australian boy living with his parents, brother and sister, and dog.
Initial consultation
16th April 2018, Western Australia.
Main complaint
Recurrent pneumonia, with insomnia, and facial tics.
Table 1: Medical History, Harry
Table 2: Family Medical History, Harry
Table 3: Presenting symptoms, Harry, April 2018.
Analysis
Harry had undergone seven surgeries by age two. Anaesthetics, antibiotics, vaccinations, and steroids, exerting their strong physiological effect over the organism, can result in immune dysfunction. Harry’s frequent acute infections combined with chromosomal abnormalities is indicative of the sixth Level of Health (Fig.1) where infections typically require medical assistance as they are more severe due to the comorbidities already in existence at this level25.
Figure 2: Repertorisation of symptoms (Table 3), April 2018.
Figure 3: Results based on repertorization (Fig. 2), April 2018.
Differentiation of remedies
CARCINOSINUM. An important characteristic in Carcinosinum children is SLEEPLESSNESS. WAKING AT 4AM and cannot fall asleep again – which started alongside NERVOUS TICS of the eyes, and eyelids shortly after starting school, ties the possibility of FEAR THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED as a prime and underlying cause for Harry’s behaviours and AN INHERENT NEED TO ESTABLISH ORDER becoming FASTIDIOUS, TIDY, INDUSTRIOUS, with A STRONG SENSE OF ORDER – Harry with his love of tidying the yards every morning may also suggest a HIGH SENSE OF RESPONSIBILTY. LOVE OF DANCING, and sensitivity to music. May be great lovers of animals – empathetic and sympathetic elements combine to a sense of clairvoyance. Fear of busy streets (in a crowd), and an aversion to consolation (hugs). Lack of reaction i.e., absence of fever. Tendency to develop ASTHMATIC CONDITIONS is seen in Harry’s requirement for predmix and ventolin during CHRONIC PNEUMONIA26.
PHOSPHOROUS. Children are warm, friendly, outgoing, musical, and sensitive with a typical craving for chocolate and sweets27 and exhibit extreme sympathy – can become involved with strangers – the phosphorous child makes contact with anyone. Clairvoyance. Anxiety about health. Recurring respiratory infections. Pneumonia28.
Prescription, April 2018
CARCINOSINUM 200c, once daily for three days’ only. In Group B (Fig.1) the dose can be repeated for a few days29.
Response to the remedy, May 2018
Harry was very angry, emotional, and weepy, with increased tiredness and lethargy for one week after Carcinosinum. Initial reactions to the remedy can be very strong in Group B with temporarily heightened emotions, weakness, and need for sleep. Indicative of a good immune response where there is functional pathology but also sometimes in deeper pathologies too. This reaction gives a good prognosis29.
Table 4: Improved, worsened and new symptoms, May 2018
Prescription, May 2018
Nil.
Table 5: Improved, worsened and new symptoms, Harry, June 2018.
Response to the remedy, June 2018
After an initial aggravation in April, Harry remained well for some months after Carcinosinum indicating restoration of immune function had begun29.
Prescription, June 2018
Nil.
Appointment, Harry, March 2022
Harry is almost ten years old and has developed symptoms which require attention, including a fever of 39.8°C which is an excellent sign his immune system has become more robust29, 31 and is now capable of raising a fever in response to an infectious pathogen25, 30.
As all diseases – acute and chronic – in the entire medical history of a person form links in the chain of immune response, the reappearance here of old symptoms, first present when Harry initially developed pneumonia as a toddler, show the direction of cure (progression of symptoms appearing in the reverse order in which they came during recovery from serious illness31, 32) is correct, which is also evidenced by no recurrence of pneumonia or need for steroids, ventolin or antibiotics since March 2018.
Table 6: Presenting symptoms, March 2022.
Figure 4: Repertorization of symptoms (Table 6), Harry, March 2022.
Figure 5: Results based on repertorization (Fig. 4), Harry, March 2022.
Differentiation of remedies
KALI BICHROMATUM typically manifests physical pathology, especially effecting the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract producing excessive, thick, yellow, stringy discharges28.
HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS can be easily confused with Kali bichromatum with its thick, ropy discharges of the respiratory tract, and can affect all mucous membranes28.
Kali carbonicum, with its tendency to pneumonia in children, and modality of general aggravation from 2 to 4am, and Pulsatilla with its copious ear, nose and throat discharges, were both differentiated but not selected as neither remedy strongly features the tendency to stringy mucous28.
Prescription, March 2022
KALI BICHROMATUM 30C – One dose immediately, and again before bed.
Ideally a 1M (not in my dispensary) would have been prescribed in alignment with the sixth Level of Health29, which is why two doses were suggested.
Response to the remedy, 27 March 2022
After two doses of Kali bichromatum 30C, Harry woke unsettled that night at 3am without coughing, vomiting, retching, or mucous and was asleep again by 3:30am, ate a big breakfast, and did not cough the next day.
Update, 02 April 2022
The entire household has been quite unwell all week with respiratory illness, Harry however is ‘good as gold,’ and the family are all very relieved.
Discussion
Homeopathic theory proposes that the aggressive use of drugs in the treatment of superficial inflammation overwhelms the immune system32, impeding the body’s natural curative responses and allowing the disease process, now in the form of chronic low-grade inflammation29, access to vital to life body and organ systems where it can manifest as chronic disease25, 34. The evolution of Harry’s recurrent infections (Table 1) is in alignment with this theory.
Peacefully balanced microbial symbiosis determines the degree of overall health status 35 – 37. Microbiome science substantiates the fundamental principles of homeopathy33 and provides the novel addition to Level of Health theory29 that the levels (Fig. 1) are determined primarily, but not exclusively, by eubiotic or dysbiotic microorganisms predominantly populating the digestive tract, but also the skin25, and any exposed surface or mucous membrane, such as the vagina, lungs, mouth, nose, sinuses, ears, nails, or eyes.
Paediatric cohorts suffer most commonly from microbiologically destructive events, with exponentially increasing rates of chronic systemic inflammatory disease38. In Australia the highest rate of dispensed antibiotics in under 65’s is for children aged two and four, most commonly in otitis media39.
The return of Harry’s original onset pneumonia symptoms (Table 6) is reflective of direction of cure theory – old, suppressed conditions return as the general chronic condition improves – evidenced by no recurrence of pneumonia or need for steroids, ventolin or antibiotics for four years, since March 2018, indicating favourable progression and prognosis38, 40.
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