Childhood Illnesses

Chicken Pox

Incubation: 7-21 days

Infectious: a few days before the rash, until the last spot or blister has formed a scab.

Chicken Pox generally occurs in a mild form in young babies; the younger they are the milder it is and some babies have only a couple of spots. It starts with a fever, loss of appetite and some irritability. As the spots come out they form blisters which are itchy and go through a pussy stage before crusting over. Dress your child in loose cotton clothes and cut their fingernails or use mitts on a baby to prevent scratching, especially as chicken pox rash can leave scars.
German Measles

Incubation: 14-21 days

Infectious: 5 days before and 7 days after rash appears

German measles, or rubella, is generally a short-lived mild infection. A faint pink rash of tiny spots starts behind the ears or on the face and spreads down the body. It may be accompanied by watery eyes and swollen glands at the back of the neck and/or behind the ears, under the arms or in the groin. Do avoid contact with pregnant women while your child has German measles and notify pregnant women with whom you were in contact in the three-week period before the spots came out (when your child was incubating rubella).

Measles

Incubation: 8-21 days

Infectious: 4 days before and 5-10 days after rash appears

If you suspect your baby is incubating measles look for small spots like grains of sand (known as Koplick’s spots) in the mouth, inside the cheeks. Measles lasts up to two weeks. It starts with a high fever and watery, red eyes which are sensitive to light. The rash will appear a few days later, starting behind the ears and spreading down the body and as it does so the fever will begin to drop. It is a blotchy, itchy rash with raised spots in the blotches. Children need careful nursing through measles to reduce the possibility of complications (cough, earache etc.) developing. Do keep a child with measles and sore eyes out of bright light, with curtains partially closed and lights dimmed.

Mumps

Incubation: 12-28 days

Infectious: 2 days before swelling of gland appears until it has gone down

Mumps usually occurs as a mild childhood infection, especially in infants. The most common (and often the first) symptom is the swelling of one or both of the salivary glands (in front of the ear and just above the angle of the jaw), which gives a hamster-cheeked appearance. The glands under the tongue and jaw may also swell. Give drinks through a straw or from a bottle if it is painful to open the mouth. Wrap a hot water bottle in a towel and let your child lie on it to soothe painful swellings.

Roseola

Incubation: 5-15 days

Roseola is a mild, infectious illness which rarely needs treating. The rash is very similar to German measles, and the two are sometimes confused. In German Measles the rash appears with the fever and in roseola it appears when the fever has come down.

Scarlet Fever

Incubation: 7-21 days

Infectious: 7 days after rash comes out

This highly infectious disease is caused by the streptococcus bacteria, and although it is rare nowadays, when it comes, it can sweep through whole neighborhoods or schools. The symptoms are a sore throat, followed a day or two later by a rash of tiny spots which begins on the neck and chest and spread over the whole body, giving the skin a texture like sandpaper ; vomiting, fever and a flushed face (though the area around the mouth may be pale). The tongue may also have a red and white ‘strawberry’ appearance. It is important that you consult your doctor if you suspect your child has scarlet fever.

Whooping Cough

Incubation: 7-21 days

Infectious: up to 3-4 weeks after the illness appears

The first signs of whooping cough are a slight fever and runny nose. This is followed by a loose cough. The mucus then thickens and extends, uncontrollable coughing fits occur to bring it up, after which the child draws air convulsively back into the lungs resulting in the characteristic whoop. Whooping cough is often accompanied by retching and/or vomiting. Complications in babies have been well publicized, but they are rare in children over a year old.

[As incubation and infectious periods vary, the information listed here is a rough guide only.]

Young babies may not be able to breathe in properly after a coughing fit, and may also find feeding difficult if they vomit frequently. If you have decided not to immunize against whooping cough I strongly recommend that you ‘sign on’ with a professional homeopath, so that if you can get effective help if home-prescribing does not produce a quick response.

Children who have been vaccinated can still contract whooping cough although it tends not to be as severe, i.e. there is rarely the characteristic whoop. This can lead to the unfortunate situation where doctors prescribe repeated courses of antibiotics for what is essentially a viral illness. Parents with children who have a stubborn cough should always suspect a ‘mutated’ whooping cough, especially if antibiotic treatment has proved ineffective.

Whooping cough can last from three weeks to all winter long and is a long and tiring infection for both child and parent. Since homeopathic treatment is so effective, do consult a professional homeopath if home prescribing does not quickly help.

HOW CAN HOMEOPATHY HELP?

Homeopathic treatment will help at all stages of a childhood illness: with an itchy rash or painful, swollen glands; with an accompanying cough or sore, sticky eyes; and children usually recover quicker and easier without complications. Antibiotic treatment is ineffective for viral infections (except scarlet fever) and will only add to your child’s stress load. Avoid them during this time and use homeopathic remedies to help stimulate your child’s inner healer.

Homeopathic Remedies

Aconite

First stage of any childhood illness that starts suddenly and is accompanied by a high fever; a runny nose; a hard, dry, croupy cough; red, sore eyes and/or a sore throat. Rashes burn and itch. Children are restless, anxious and fearful and may even say they are scared of dying. They are generally thirsty for cold water; feel worse for warmth and at night; better for fresh air and for uncovering.

Antimonium crudum

Childhood illnesses are accompanied by a tickling cough and nausea. Children are sulky and extremely irritable, they do not want to be touched or examined, or even looked at. They have cracks at the corners of their mouth and/or nostrils. The tongue is white as if it has been painted. They are drowsy, thirstless and worse in a hot room.

Antimonium tartaricum

Chicken pox where the rash is slow to come out. Children are irritable and drowsy. They are very sweaty and nauseous, and develop a stubborn cough which is loose, loud and rattling. There is lots of mucus which can’t be brought up.

Apis

The rash is slow to come out and when it does, it itches and stings. Face and eyelids are puffy and red. Affected parts (rash, glands etc.) are puffy also and itch and sting. Children are extremely restless, anxious, clingy and cry out in their sleep. They are generally thirstless; cannot bear heat or pressure of any sort; they do not want to be touched. They have a high fever with scanty urine, and feel better for cold and cool bathing.

Arsenicum

For restless, anxious, chilly children who want to be covered. They are terribly weak and only want hot drinks which they will only drink a sip at a time. They may have diarrhea with the fever. In mumps the breasts and testes may be swollen.

Belladonna

The illness starts suddenly and can be accompanied by bedwetting, a runny nose, a cough, sore throat, throbbing headache and/or burning, dry, red eyes. The head is hot, the face red and the extremities feel cold. The pupils are dilated, and the tongue is red with white spots (like a strawberry). The rash is red, hot, dry, burning and very itchy. Children are restless and irritable, and delirious with a high, dry fever. With mumps the glands are hot and swollen and sensitive to touch. They are generally thirstless (although they may ask for lemonade); feel worse in the afternoon and are cannot bear light, noise or pressure. They like rest and warmth.

Bryonia alba

Illness is slow to develop the rash is slow to appear or doesn’t come out fully. There is a hard, dry, painful cough which is worse for movement, and may be accompanied by a bursting, frontal headache. Children are irritable and want to be alone; they do not want to be disturbed or moved. They are generally thirsty for large quantities (gulp them) at infrequent intervals and worse for heat or movement of any sort.

Calcarea phosphorica

Children are weak and tired after a childhood illness. They are irritable, hard to please and have no ‘go’ in them. They are pale and anemic and can’t wake up in the morning.

Coccus cacti

Whooping cough with a choking, racking, tickling cough. Coughing fits end in retching and coughing up copious mucous which hangs in strings. Generally worse for stuffy rooms and around midnight; better for fresh air.

Drosera

Whooping cough (or for cough after measles) with severe, violent cough with vomiting and nosebleeds. Face may go blue with each coughing fit. Voice becomes hoarse. The cough is worse when lying down, for talking or laughing; better for fresh air.

Euphrasia

Measles with very sore, swollen, burning, watery eyes which are sensitive to the light. Nose streams also but does not irritate. There may be a harsh, dry cough which is worse in the day and better when lying down and a headache which is better once the rash appears.

Gelsemium

For measles that comes on slowly in warm weather with cold or flu-like symptoms that are accompanied by a great weariness and heaviness. The eyes are swollen and watery. Children are generally apathetic and thirstless and feverish with chills. They feel better after urinating.

Ipecacuanha

For measles where the rash is slow to come out and there is constant nausea (with a clear, red tongue) which isn’t helped by vomiting. There is a rattly cough (with nausea) which is dry and comes in fits which end in choking in gagging . The child is hard to please, generally thirstless and worse for heat.

Jaborandi

Mumps with exhaustion. Glands swollen making swallowing and talking difficult. Profuse sweating and salivation (with a dry mouth). Breasts, ovaries or testicles become painful. Generally thirsty; worse for cold and after sweating.

Kali bichromicum

For the later stages of measles where there is stubborn catarrh which is stringy and ropy, with swollen glands and/or earache and deafness from catarrh in the Eustachian tubes.

Kali sulphuricum

Whooping cough with a rattly, wheezy chest. The mucus (from nose and chest) is yellow and thick, or yellowy-green. They are worse for getting over-heated (especially indoors) and better in the fresh air. The tongue is often slimy and yellow-coated. The mucus from the chest is yellow and hard to cough up, it comes into the throat and is swallowed.

Lachesis

Left-sided mumps with glands that are very painful and sensitive to the slightest touch or pressure. The throat is very sore and it is difficult to swallow anything except for hard foods like toast or chips. Children are much worse for heat and when they wake after a sleep.

Mercurius solubilis

Glands swollen and painful, especially on the right side. Pains shoot to ears and/or neck. Illness may be accompanied by a runny nose; earache; sticky eyes; sore throat. Profuse, smelly sweat, and salivation. Metallic taste in mouth (may have mouth ulcers) and smelly breath. The tongue is swollen and coated and may show indents around the edges from the teeth. Generally feels worse at night, for extremes of temperature (for heat and cold) and for sweating; better for resting.

Phosphoric acid

Children are weak and tired after a childhood illness. They can appear depressed, are apathetic and uncommunicative. They are pale with dark rings under their eyes and have no appetite.

Phosphorus

Childhood illness with bad cough which is dry, hacking and tickling. It is worse for cold air and any change in temperature. Great thirst for cold drinks, especially ice-cold water. Face is very flushed with a high fever. Children may want to play in spite of being quite ill, or they can become apathetic and debilitated. They need lots of reassurance and love to be cuddled and massaged. They are generally worse in the mornings and evenings.

Phytolacca

Mumps with glands that are hard and swollen. Pains may spread to breasts, ovaries and testicles. Glands are painful, and the pains radiate to the ears on swallowing. The child is better for cold drinks and worse for hot drinks. The throat hurts, especially when sticking out the tongue. The tongue is red-tipped and breath smells. With copious sweating and salivation. Children are floppy and tearful.

Pulsatilla

The illness is accompanied by swollen glands; thick, yellow catarrh; bedwetting; a cough which is dry at night and loose in the morning; sticky eyes; earache and/or a fever. Symptoms are changeable and worse in the evenings. In mumps the breasts, ovaries or testicles are painful. Children are weepy, whiny, pathetic and clingy. Small children want to be carried everywhere. They are generally thirstless; worse for warmth and when lying down at night; better for fresh air.

Rhus toxicodendron

Illness is accompanied by swollen glands; aching joints and/or sore eyes. The rash is hot, dry and very itchy and causes great restlessness. It isn’t alleviated by scratching. The tongue has a red tip. Children are restless and depressed. In mumps the left side is more swollen. They are generally worse for cold and at night; better for warmth and a hot bath or shower. They like to be tucked up in bed and don’t like to be uncovered, which makes their symptoms worse.

Sulphur

Illness is accompanied by bedwetting; earache (on the left side); sore, red eyes, fever and/or runny nose. Tongue is white with a red tip and edges. Rash is red, hot, burns and itches maddeningly. Children are sweaty, restless and irritable. They are generally thirsty for cold drinks (usually water); are worse in the mid-morning and worse for heat and bathing; better for fresh air.

Zincum metallicum

The rash, especially with measles and scarlet fever, doesn’t come out properly, and as it recedes the child becomes lethargic. Children are fretful and easily startled. They are generally restless, exhausted and twitchy, suffering from restless legs which are worse in bed at night. They may have a bad headache which is better for pressure.

Help for itchy spots

Dab dilute cider vinegar or bicarbonate of soda on very itchy spots (one tablespoon to 1 pint/1/2 liter of water), or let a not-very-sick-child soak in a tepid bath to which a cup of vinegar or a handful of bicarbonate has been added. Or blend a cup of dry oatmeal until fine and put a handful in the bath.

Help for sore eyes

Bathe sticky eyes with Euphrasia (eyebright) lotion to ease soreness (a tablespoon to a pint of freshly boiled water. Let it cool, strain it and bathe eyes with a separate piece of cotton wool for each eye).

Seek help if :

• your feverish, sick child (especially babies under six months old) is drinking less than usual or refusing drinks and has become lethargic.

• a baby under six months old has a fever.

• an older baby has a fever of over 104°F (40°C) that doesn’t respond to sponging and/or homeopathic treatment within 24 hours.

• there is a lack of reaction (listlessness and limpness) which can imply that a serious illness such as pneumonia or meningitis has developed.

• your child is screaming and is obviously in pain but you don’t know where.

• a rash becomes infected.

A child who doesn’t recover well from a childhood illness always needs constitutional treatment from a homeopathic practitioner.

Dosage for Homeopathic Remedies

Tablets can be chewed, or they can be crushed between two spoons and added to a small glass of water. Granules can be given neat on the tongue or diluted in water.

One dose = one tablet, a few granules or a teaspoon of water in which a tablet or a few granules have been dissolved.

• Give one dose (of the 6 or 30 potency) every 2 hours for up to 6 doses, then three times daily once it has started to help.

• Stop once symptoms are considerably better.

• Change the remedy after a day if there is no improvement, or if it has stopped helping, or seek advice from a homeopathic practitioner.

Homeopathic Kit

Miranda Castro’s Homeopathic Childhood Kit (including one of each of the twenty-five remedies featured in this article in the 30th potency) is available from:

The Natural Pharmacy
PO Box 6033
Santa Fe, NM 87502
Telephone: 505 982 4071
http:// www.a2zhomeopathy.com

Or order remedies individually from your favorite homeopathic pharmacy many of which can offer a next day delivery service.

Recommended reading

These books are available from The Natural Pharmacy:

The Complete Homeopathy Handbook by Miranda Castro

Homeopathic Medicine at Home by Panos and Heimlich

Homeopathy in Epidemic Diseases by Dorothy Shepherd

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Miranda Castro is a British-trained professional homeopath who has been in practice since 1983. She lives in Gainesville (Florida) where she practices and teaches. She has published three books: The Complete Homeopathy Handbook , Homeopathy for Pregnancy, Birth & Your Baby’s First Years and Homeopathic Guide to Stress. She also has a background in acupuncture, iridology and humanistic psychology.
Mailing: 4474 NW 1st Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32607
Office: 1801 NW 11th Road, Gainesville, FL 32605
Phone: 352-505-8545
Web: www.mirandacastro.com