From a medical point of view, fever is essential to clear infections as all the immune processes responsible for taking care of the pathogens get recruited at pyrexic temperatures. This is a defense that the organisms has developed over millennia of evolution. Yet, the impractical fear of parents and ignorance on the part of primary caregivers has led to indiscriminate use of antipyretics, anti inflammatories and antibiotics. With the growing number of autoimmune disorders and increased antibiotic resistance in the population, this practice is being questioned now. We, as classical homeopaths have been taught that fever is good and we must only support the immune system in its effort and not suppress the fever. Our remedies in fact many times raise the temperature when the organism isn’t able to raise it enough, so that the neutralisation of the pathogen and the resolution of acute inflammation occurs efficiently, restoring the child back to health.
But, we still have to deal with the high fever which is scary for the parents and to the homeopath especially if ignorant of when a fever is dangerous. The following case is one with such features and with the right remedy, health was restored to the child in a considerably short period of time.
29/11/2017
A 5 year old boy was brought to clinic with fever since the previous day. By telephone they reported that the temperature was 105 F. The physician had suggested blood tests to be performed before bringing the child to clinic.
Present temperature: 104.7 F
Remarkable laboratory findings:
Neutrophils: 85% (N: 40 – 60); Lymphocytes: 11% (N: 40 – 75)
This indicates very high bacterial infection. The N/L ratio when high is a medical emergency and the bacteraemia must be controlled. Parents were panicked about the temperature.
Symptoms available for prescription:
- increased thirst but only sips water
- pain in both tibia
- crying constantly
- vomiting after eating
- very tired and weak
- tongue – white coated
The repertorisation did not yield a clear picture. This made the physician think that there was more to this fever. On enquiring further, the mother narrated that the boy had become excessively obsessed with gods of late. He performed his own rituals and spent hours worshipping gods. He even dressed and acted like a goddess himself, during a festival dedicated to her, by wearing his sister’s clothes. He cursed people and verbally abused them when angry.
Vithoulkas Compass:
Prescription: Veratrum album 200C every 2 hours was prescribed.
The next day, the temperature was 103.5 F and the second it returned to normal.
01/12/2017.
The blood test was repeated.
Neutrophils: 32%; Lymphocyte: 56%
Patient was well and afebrile.
Here, we must remember that the acute prescription is usually tricky, yet it is during the acute situation that the symptoms are the clearest. Yet, this boy’s acute symptomatology did not indicate a specific remedy, as they were very general. At such times it pays to dig deeper till we find the nub of the case. The strong and reliable symptom that lie at the centre of the case.
Very nicely done!
thank you dear Firuzi
Thank you Seema. This is a good example of how classical homeopathy assist health in acute situations. And we need these examples to bring to light that the use of antipyretics like paracetamol, and nsaid’s and antibiotics are rarely indicated.
That will help people to stay in higher levels of health and health not degrading into chronic illnesses!!
true dear stefan, we see the evidence of this over and over especially now
I forgot to add in the case report that the delusion that he was a goddess went away after this acute