A ten-year-old male child came with her parents with the complaint of loss patches of hair on his head since he was 5 years old. There were circular patches of hair loss. Itching of the scalp was also noted.
He had taken allopathic treatment for 4 years but was not satisfied as once they stopped medication hair loss occurred. His parents came to homeopathy as a last source of hope. They had stopped all modes of treatment four months before visiting the clinic.
MIND:
The parents said the child is very reserved around others and very stubborn. Since he is the only child there is a lot of pampering from grandparents and this in turn increases his stubbornness. He has a habit of crying when someone tries to approach him in a caring way, when he is angry. This is a usual behaviour for the last 2 years. He has been fearful since he was a toddler. He has fear of dark, ghosts, being alone.
He has a history of delayed milestones. There is late learning to talk (age of 3 years) and late learning to walk (age 2.5 years). Teething was on time.
PHYSICAL GENERALS:
Appetite- normal
Thirst- 1-2 litres /day
Stool- satisfactory, once a day
Urine- normal
Perspiration- moderate, on exertion
Sleep and dreams- sound/ not remembered
Thermally- Chilly
Craving- sweets, chocolates, paneer
Aversion- nothing specific
Birth history:
LSCS
Milestones:
Walking- late- 2 and half years
Talking- late- 3 years, he started talking 2 letter words by the age of 2 and half years and later picked up fast
Teething- first tooth at 6 months of age
Mother’s history during pregnancy:
Pregnancy was not planned and the mother was anxious initially but later on she was happy and had accepted the pregnancy. She did not have any physical or emotional complaints during pregnancy or lactation.
Reportorial totality:
- Fear in children
- Obstinate children
- Obstinate children cry when kindly spoken to
- Late learning to talk
- Late learning to walk
- Alopecia in children
- Alopecia with itching in scalp
Non-reportorial totality:
- Chilly patient
REPERTORISATION:
The remedies that came highest were Silicia, Causticum, Calcarea Carbonicum, Lycopodium, etc.
The final remedy chosen was Silicia on the basis of totality.
PRESCRIPTION:
15/10/2021
Silicia 200 3 doses HS
Placebo X 15 days
FOLLOW UP:
3/11/2021
Alopecia patches show tiny hair growth in patches.
Rx- Silicia 200 3 dose
Placebo X 21 days
1/12/2021
No new patch of alopecia. Itching in scalp occasionally.
Rx: Patient was given placebo for 15 days
16/12/2021
Patient was not showing significant improvement.
Here, miasm was considered and patient was prescribed
Syphilinum 1M single dose followed by placebo.
30/12/2021
New hair growth in all alopecia patches with no new patch
Itching has reduced significantly.
Mother was happy with an overall improvement.
Rx- Placebo for a month
31/1/2022
New hair growth on all alopecia patches
No itching on scalp
Rx- Silicea 200 3 doses
Placebo X 30 days
1-3-2022
Hair growth in all alopecia patches continue
No new patch in scalp
No itching in scalp
Rx- Placebo X15 days
16-3-2022
Hair growth in all alopecia patches continue
No new patch in scalp
No itching in scalp
Rx- Placebo X15 days
Summary:
- It is extremely important to consider mental symptoms and birth history in a child. Here late learning to talk and walk becomes an important symptom to be considered in the totality of the case.
- Sometimes in a chronic case we find that the action of a well-indicated constitutional remedy gets blocked and the patient refuses to make further progress. Under the circumstances, we should make a detailed study of the symptomatology and the circumstances of its occurrence.
Analysis from the miasmatic stand point might indicate the type of miasm responsible for this block. A suitable antimiasmatic remedy will help to remove it and restore the sensitivity to the constitutional remedy. (Ref: Principles and practice of Homeopathy by Dr. M L Dhawale)
- If the case comes to a standstill and you are sure of constitutional prescription always consider miasm in the case and give an anti-miasmatic This will surely open gates to cure in your patient. For this reason, Syphyllinum 1M was prescribed as an anti-miasmatic remedy followed the next month by patient’s constitutional remedy Silicia.
Before and after results of the treatment:
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