Some aspects of Mumps with homoeopathic mode of treatment

Mumps is an acute, highly infectious disease of childhood caused by mumps virus, a RNA virus belonging to the family of paramyxoviruses which has a predilection for glandular and nervous tissues. The virus is antigenically stable and only one serotype exists. Humans are the only natural hosts. No human carriers or animal reservoirs exist. One attack confers lasting immunity and so second attacks are not seen. Introduction of aggressive immunization has dramatically reduced the incidence of the disease in the developed countries.

Age- Although no age is exempt, it is primarily a disease of childhood and young adults it is uncommon before 2 years of age. It often occurs as epidemics in children of 5-15 years as well as in young people living in groups as in army camps.

Spread of infection- This infection spreads by direct contact, airborne droplets or fomites contaminated with saliva and possibly also with urine.

Source of infection- The source of infection is a patient in the late incubation or early clinical stage of illness. The peak infectivity is about a day or two before the clinical manifestation of parotitis and subsides rapidly thereafter.

Incubation Period- Long and is about 12-25 days, average being 18 days.

Clinical Features- The prodromal symptoms are non-specific and include fever, malaise, headache and anorexia usually followed by severe pain over the parotid gland with its swelling. Sometimes parotid gland swelling may be the first clinical manifestation of the illness. Parotid swelling is unilateral to start with but may become bilateral. There is stiffness of jaw, inability to open the mouth. Dryness of the mouth with foul smell is also present. There is local pain and tenderness over the parotid gland region. There is also tenderness over the posterior ramus of the mandible. The swelling of the soft tissue may proceed downwards. The enlarged parotid glands obscure the angle of the mandible and may elevate the ear lobe. The parotitis is non-suppurative and usually resolves within a week. Rarely only the submandibular gland involvement may occur.

Complications- The most commonest complication is orchitis. It is usually unilateral but may also be bilateral when it may cause sterility due to testicular atrophy. Other less common complications are arthritis, oophoritis, nephritis, pancreatitis, thyroiditis and myocarditis. Besides these, central nervous system involvement is very often seen; it may cause ‘aseptic meningitis’ as well as meningoencephalitis in some cases. But both of these usually resolve without sequelae. A portion of patients with central nervous system involvement involvement may not show any evidence of parotid gland involvement.

Laboratory Investigations- A typical case of mumps does not need any laboratory investigation for confirmation. Laboratory investigations are needed for atypical cases.

(1) Blood Examination- Some non-specific findings may be present in the blood. The WBC may be low with lymphocytes predominating. ESR and CRP may be normal or slightly elevated. Serum amylase levels may be elevated even without pancreatic involvement.

(2) Virus Isolation - Virus can be isolated in cell culture from saliva, throat swab, urine and CSF and virus identification can be performed by neutralization or inhibition of haemadsorption by specific sera.

(3) Serologic test- Positive serologic test for serum mumps IgM antibody or four-fold rise between acute- and convalescent-phase titers in serum mumps IgG antibody level may help in the establishment of the diagnosis of the disease.

(4) Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) Test - Detection of viral RNA by this test is also helpful for confirmation of the diagnosis.

Prophylaxis- Active immunization with a live attenuated mumps virus vaccine given as a single dose can prevent the disease in children over the age of 1 year, below which age the vaccine is not recommended as it may be inhibited by maternally acquired antibodies. The vaccine is not to be given to immunosuppressed individuals or to those with severe febrile illness and also during pregnancy.

Treatment- Homoepathy plays a vital role in the treatment of mumps. Isolation of the patient and proper maintenance of oral hygiene are the first things to be borne in mind. Of the medicines, Bell ( Belladonna) 200 and Rhus.tox (Rhus Toxicodendron) 200 are to be taken alternatively at an interval of three hours between the two medicines three times daily. This should be continued for one week. Then at least for the next two weeks, both the two medicines should be continued two times daily with the gap between them increasing to not less than four hours. If there is associated throat pain, Phytolacca 200 should be added along with four times daily till the pain persists. If temperature is present, Ferrum.Phos 6x should also be given three times daily along with the main medicines.

Labels-Anorexia, Fever, Headache, Immunization, Virus, Ferrum.Phos, Bell ( Belladonna), Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) Test, Attenuated, Isolation, Rhus.tox (Rhus Toxicodendron), Medicine, Swelling, Temperature, Serologic test, IgM, IgG, Acute, Convalescent, Antibody, Arthritis, Oophoritis, Nephritis, Pancreatitis, Thyroiditis, Myocarditis.

IN SHORT-Mumps is an acute, highly infectious viral disease of childhood which begins with non-specific symptoms like fever, malaise, headache & anorexia and is soon followed by severe pain over the parotid gland with its swelling. The parotitis is non-suppurative and usually resolves within a week. The disease may be associated with several complications the most important of which is orchitis. Prevention is done with active immunization with a live attenuated mumps virus vaccine. Treatment is as mentioned above.

But in every case a doctor should be consulted।

Some aspects of Influenza with homoeopathic mode of treatment -

Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract which occurs in sporadic, epidemic and pandemic forms. It is caused by the Influenza virus which is a RNA virus and belongs to the family of Orthomyxovirus and has the unique ability to undergo antigenic variation. The route of entry is the respiratory tract. Though the disease is generally confined to the respiratory tract, very rarely it may spread to some other organs. The virus is classified into three serotypes, A, B and C, based on the antigenic nature of the ribonucleoprotein antigen. Influenza B is associated with localized outbreaks of milder nature such as in camps, whereas Influenza A is the cause of worldwide pandemics and epidemics. Influenza C rarely produces disease in humans. Influenza also occurs in animals and birds in nature. But isolates from nonhuman hosts belong to type A. Influenza viruses belonging to B and C types are exclusively human viruses and have not been found to be associated with infection in animals and birds. The unique ability of the virus to cause epidemics and pandemics is due to the frequent antigenic variations in it. Major shifts in the antigenic structure of influenza A form the essential conditions for pandemics. On the other hand, minor shifts in the virus results in less severe epidemics. A major reservoir of influenza virus is believed to exist in animals and birds and the source of infection is usually a clinical case or a sub-clinical case.

Spread of infection- Spread is mainly by droplet infection but fomites and direct contact may also be the cause.

Incubation Period-1-3 days.

Onset- Sudden.

Clinical Features- Most of the cases are sub-clinical. The disease varies in severity from a mild coryza to fulminating and rapidly fatal pneumonia. There is high rise of temperature all on a sudden with shivering and generalized aching in the limbs. This is associated with severe headache, soreness of the throat and a persistent dry cough that may last for several weeks. Abdominal pain and vomiting may also occur, especially in type B infection in children. There may be mild conjunctivitis and nasal congestion may or may not be present. During acute stage of the disease there may be flushing of the face and the pulse shows tachycardia. But all these symptoms usually disappear within a few days, an uncomplicated case usually resolving within 2-7 days, except asthenia which persists for several days or weeks.

Complications- Secondary bacterial infection, particularly with Strep.pneumonia and H. influenza is often found. The most important one is pneumonia which is rarer and is caused by Staph.aureus or very rarely by the virus itself. Cardiac complications like congestive cardiac failure (CCF) or myocarditis and postinfectious encephalomyelitis may also rarely occur after infection with this virus.

Prophylaxis- Protection by influenza vaccine is not always successful and is of short duration, lasting for about a year. The major problem is the frequent change in its antigenic make up. Hence new vaccines are to be prepared each time to cover each change in antigenicity of the virus which is a great hindrance to the fight against an outbreak of influenza at the very beginning.

Treatment- Besides bed rest, the following homeoeoathic medicines may be used-
Bry (Bryonia) 30, Bell ( Belladonna) 6, Rhus tox ( Rhus Toxicodendron) 30, Eup.perf (Eupatorium Perfoliatum) 6 or 30 should be used separately one after another at an interval of usually ½ to 1 hour several times in a day depending on severity and nature of the condition. Bryonia is especially useful in fever with pain stitching and or tearing in nature as well as in fever with dry cough. Belladonna is particularly useful in a high feverish state with mild or no signs of toxaemia. It may also be used effectively when there is distension of superficial blood vessels. Rhus tox 30 acts better in chill with dry cough and or restlessness. It is particularly useful when the bowels are loose. Eupatorium Perfoliatum is particularly useful in fever with much frontal ache but without thirst during chill and also in bone pains. For high fever, Ferrum Phos 6x should be used repeatedly in between the above four medicines. If there is any chest congestion, Antim. tart ( Antimonium tartaricum) 6 may be used several times depending on severity of the condition. Lach. ( Lachesis) may be tried in presence of hot flushes and hot perspiration.

Labels-Antim. tart ( Antimonium tartaricum), CCF, Encephalomyelitis, Eup.perf (Eupatorium Perfoliatum), Lach. ( Lachesis), Myocarditis, Pandemic, RNA., Sporadic, Staph.aureus, Ferrum Phos, Chill, Toxaemia, Bry (Bryonia) , Bell ( Belladonna) , Rhus tox ( Rhus Toxicodendron) , Chest, Congestion, Blood vessel, Strep.pneumonia, H. influenza, Orthomyxovirus, Serotype, Epidemic, Ribonucleoprotein, Antigen.

IN SHORT-Influenza is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract caused by the Influenza virus which is manifested by a sudden high rise of temperature with shivering and generalized aching in the limbs & is also associated with severe headache, soreness of the throat and a persistent dry cough that may last for several weeks. It may be complicated by secondary ingection. Protection by influenza vaccine is not of much value due to the frequent change in its antigenic make up. Treatment is as mentioned above.

But in every case a doctor should be consulted.