A Case of Developmental Delay

Case presentation:

G.G, 17 months old, male

Initial consultation: 04.02.2020

Main complaint: significant developmental delay

Birth – induced. The mother was not allowed to push when she felt ready.  She held him in for 2 hours.  The baby was born with haematoma on the right side of the head.

He was immunized at birth and followed the vaccination schedule up to 6 months. (Did not have MMR). When vaccinated at 6 months had fever 39^oC.

Different pupil size. Suspected glaucoma. Inconclusive MRI (under sedation) at 5 months.

Hearing at birth was tested and had to be followed up, because the results showed deficiency. When the boy was 1 year old, he was issued a hearing aid.  The mother says that he responds to a wide range of sounds and doesn’t understand why the hearing test results are abnormal.  Does not use the hearing aid.

Hip dysplasia diagnosed soon after birth.  G. was placed in the specialised harness from 6 weeks till he was 7 months old.

G. has low white blood cell count.

Doesn’t crawl. Can’t pull himself up.  Likes to stand but needs to be held. Can’t sit up but will sit once assisted.

Early teething (at 3 months).

No perspiration.

Sleeps on his back. Moves in his sleep, but not restless.

Couldn’t breastfeed (difficulty sucking).  For first 6 moths had breast milk in bottle.  At 6 months formula, milk and solids were introduced.  G. started to vomit.  Dairy products upset his digestion (vomiting, constipation). Otherwise good appetite.  Prefers smooth food, juices.

Thirsty, drinks often.

Burps when full.

Chokes on solid (pieces) food. Chewing food is difficult, yet likes to bite on other things. Likes to chew ingestible things. Excessive salivation. Mouth always open (not too wide).

When introduced to a new toy he will lick/taste it first before trying to take it with his hands.

Every now and then he looks upward with a vacant stare in his eyes.

Small for his age.

Loves water, sand.

During pregnancy mother had haemorrhoids treated with incision.  She was also very stressed a few months before birth due to troubles with business. It was all resolved.

The child is happy to be picked up by strangers.

No evident fears.

Current Mental/emotional symptoms:

Arrested development.

Current physical symptoms:

Different pupil size.

Eructation after eating.

Vacant look.

Excessive salivation.

Mouth open

Difficulty swallowing.

Sleep position – back.

Current General symptoms:

Desires ingestible things

Milk aggravates.

Desires open air.

Level of health: Lower group B to upper Group C (Level 6 – 7). Moderate retardation is evident, yet the child was able to bring up fever 39^oC.

At this point, the prognosis according to the Levels of Health (Vithoulkas) would be that the child will respond quickly to treatment and will start showing many acute infections soon which must be handled with the right approach every time for the improvement to continue.

Prescription: Cicuta 200C (one dose)

Feb 04, 2020 ­ Repertorial Analysis :

Symptom Degree

MIND ­ DEVELOPMENT of children ­ arrested ­ after injury of head 2

MIND ­ DEVELOPMENT of children ­ arrested 3

GENERALITIES ­ FOOD and DRINKS ­ milk ­ agg. 2

THROAT ­ SWALLOWING ­ difficult ­ fluids only, can swallow, but solid food gags ­ fluids only, can swallow, but solid food gags 2

MOUTH ­ OPEN 2

MOUTH ­ SALIVATION 3

STOMACH ­ THIRST 2

GENERALITIES ­ AIR ­ open ­ desire for 1

GENERALITIES ­ FOOD and DRINKS ­ indigestible things ­ desire 3

FACE ­ EXPRESSION ­ vacant 1

STOMACH ­ ERUCTATIONS ­ empty ­ eating, after 2

SLEEP ­ POSITION ­ back, on 2

Follow Up:

Straight after taking the remedy G. became restless.  The mother reported that he became more alert, responding to sounds.  More interested in the world around him.  Shows more interest in toys.

6.02.2020

38. developed a fever (38.2C was the highest recorded) and runny nose. His appetite increased and he was coping well with the fever.

3.03.2020

According to mother “He’s changed a lot!”  In the first week the changes were mainly related to his awareness.  He started paying attention to many more sounds, almost like his hearing has improved. Seemed a lot more interested in what’s going on around him.

He now grabs on objects that seem interesting to him (in shops and at home). Attempts to go on his fours from sitting position. Can stay on fours for a little while.

Happy to be on his tummy (was never happy before). Holds his head confidently in the cobra position.

Takes solid food and doesn’t choke! Attempts to chew.

Makes sounds. Experimenting with his lips.

No absent look with eyes moved upward!

Mouth is not as open, sometimes closed completely (never before). Salivation less.

A lot more smiley.

Gets involved in the game, communicates.

Full of energy, as a result sleeps less during the day and wakes up at night wanting to play.

Mother took measurements and comparing to previous measurements he grew 3 cm in length and head circumference is 0.9 cm bigger (doctors were worried that his head was too small, expected it not to grow).  The head changed shape and is rounder.

Eructation increased.

Can eat a bit of dairy without vomiting.

Sleeps on right side.

The child is doing well. No need to prescribe at the moment.

Outcome: Before taking the remedy, the child hadn’t had a fever for a year. It is fair to assume that he moved down from lever 6 to level 7 between the age of 6 months and 17 months.

The quick response to the remedy shows that he didn’t get lower than level 7. The rapid changes which are taking place in his development indicate that the organism is strong enough to restore much of what has been disturbed.

Given that he is regaining awareness, basic abilities (i.e. motor skills, chewing, swallowing, etc), as well as improving in digestion (can now tolerate dairy), he should continue to make progress in all areas of his development.

While the child presented with a number of Cicuta symptoms (8 out of 12 recorded), it seems that the development was arrested due to head injury during birth (haematoma).  The remedy was able to meet the point of disturbance and stimulate the organism into healing.

The injury created a Cicuta picture which directed me to the remedy.  Not every birth trauma will bring about Cicuta symptoms, therefore it is important to take into account all of the details. However, Cicuta, being the head-injury remedy, should be considered for birth trauma and impaired development. Also, not every child will respond so quickly.

Here, the understanding of Levels of Health helps us to understand the time to response and the action to be taken for further progress. In another child of a lower health level, our approach would be quite different in terms of dosage, potency and interpretation of the follow up.

Testimonial by the mother in her own words

“I can’t change my son’s choice to live his own way; what I can do is to accept him totally, to support him and to love him.

I’m a mom who is always looking for the best natural options to support myself and my son. It’s so blessing to meet the right person on my way who shares my vision and beliefs. Exactly that moment when my son took the remedy I felt that something has changed in him. It’s difficult to explain. Just the feeling. Only moms can feel it.

Since that time I see a lot of changes: more awareness, more motivation to be here, more interactive with me and others, more physical strength.

Being together on that way I felt so much relief from not blaming myself or feeling guilty.

This empowers me in my motherhood and gives me so much power to support my son in his own way without trying to change him, to blame myself or make a drama.

My choice is to be patient, stay myself, be loving and accept everything what’s happening with us now.

Thank you to myself, to my son and to Elka.”