Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in a Man of 30

Keywords: Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), case report, homeopathic therapy

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is the most frequent acute lower respiratory tract infection, contributing to the highest mortality rate in infectious diseases,¹ largely affecting males more than females.² The most common causative agent of pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), that affects 18% of the total pneumonia cases.²  Whereas, other agents (atypical pathogens) like Hemophilus influenzae and intracellular pathogens (Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and others) contribute 2-20% of pneumonia cases and are generally less severe or even self-limiting.³ However, it is estimated that over 50% of the pneumonia cases go without a microbial diagnosis and the cause is considered to be unknown.²

In an attempt to classify the condition, the American Thoracic Society classifies PN based on their location of acquiring infection as – Community-Acquired pneumonia (CAP – acquired outside a hospital – focus of our study), Hospital-Acquired pneumonia and Ventilator Associated pneumonia.⁴ The gold standard tool for diagnosing CAP is Chest X-ray (CXR), which maps out any one of the 3 radiological signs viz. focal nonsegmental (lobar), multifocal bronchopneumonia (lobular), and focal or diffuse (interstitial).⁵ High-resolution computed tomography provides a better study of these patterns, but generally opted when the cause is undetermined. Routine serological tests and sputum culture are additionally advised to evaluate severity.⁶

The most accepted treatment guidelines for CAP is through administering antibiotics and respiratory fluoroquinolone in presence of other co-morbidities.⁷ Recommendation for an inpatient management is assessed by the CURB-65 (Confusion, Uremia, elevated Respiratory rate, low Blood pressure – 65 years of age and older) score, which estimates risk of mortality in CAP cases with a score greater than two.⁸

Likewise PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) score is also used for evaluating patients aged above 50 claiming better indication.⁸ The clinical efficacy and safety of antibiotics for CAP is still under question; one due to its potential systemic adverse effects^9–11 and the other due to antimicrobial resistance to various antibiotics processed so far, calling forth novel antibiotics which in turn requires clinical trials.^12,13  The use of CURB-65 is still under debate due to its moderate accuracy.¹⁴

As mentioned previously, it is documented that the majority of the CAP cases have no pathogens detected, and yet the antibiotic regimen is recommended even in these cases as per the guidelines. Hence, we present a case report of a 30-year-old male diagnosed with CAP (of indeterminate etiology), treated with individualized classical homeopathic therapy. The patient never took antibiotics and had no known comorbidities. There have been studies formerly conducted under homeopathic therapy for respiratory infections, but  failed to prove its effectiveness due to its generalised approach of the cases¹⁵ .

CASE REPORT

A 30-year-old male

Initial consultation: 29 October 2019

Chief complaints:

Patient was coughing for 1 week before the first consultation. Cough was dry, no expectoration and had to strain a lot but in vain. Constant coughing, more at early morning around 6 am. Cough in two bouts+2.  Violent cough on attempting to speak+3 and immediately after lying down at night+2.

Cough followed by dryness of mouth and need to drink water very often in large quantities, but this does not quench the thirst. Cough accompanied with violent sneezing; nasal discharge flies off from nose especially in the morning+2.

Appetite diminished, likes spicy fried food; occasionally constipated. Cannot tolerate both extremes of temperature but cannot tolerate heat more and needs fanning.

As patient was in severe distress because of coughing, he was not willing to give any mental symptoms.

 Investigations (CXR – PA view): Consolidation noted in left lower zone (See Figure 1.)

 Repertorization 1: 31.10.2019

Prescription: LACHESIS MUTA 1M single dose

 FOLLOW UPS:

DISCUSSION

The sequel of lower respiratory tract infections such as PN is determined by the vigour of the inflammation initiated. In recent studies, the concept of integrated pathogenesis in cases like PN are emerging with wide acceptance that pulmonary cells and extrapulmonary cells or tissues in unison drive out the infection and protect the lung tissues, while the same can turn counterproductive if the on-going inflammation is dysregulated, leading to chronic inflammatory states.¹

Further, pulmonary dysbiosis through massive prescriptions of antibiotics can yield similar disaster.¹¹  The homeopathic system of medicine, with its integrated perspective on pathology, preserves the immune system from degenerating, thereby providing a general state of well-being for the patient and the same is being demonstrated in the case report presented here.

The patient suffered from acute episodes of violent cough with no history of fever along with the infection and the CXR revealed consolidation prominently in the left lung. The prescription was based on acute pathological and general symptoms presented by the patient at that time and the choice of high potency was due to the clear acute picture.

The remedy not only brought about a considerable betterment of violent cough and sneezing, but also helped to improve his sleep and appetite. The lung resolved, evidenced by the normal CXR at the end of the treatment. During the first interview the patient expressed that, though he had such violent bouts of cough, he could not bring out expectoration.

After Lachesis he started to expectorate, which is a good sign in the right direction. The undeniable appearance of eruptions on the axilla as the patient was nearing cure signifies that the remedy not only achieved lung clearance but also elevated the immune system, in consonance with the theory of Levels of Health;¹⁷ which states that the defense mechanism in better health levels impels the pathology to a much lower order (here from lung organ to skin) and pushes the organism to higher health states. We can claim cure with not just the evidence of shift of pathology from lungs to skin, but also with the evidence that the skin eruptions on axilla completely cleared at the end of the treatment period.

CONCLUSION

This case report is an example of cure achieved in infectious conditions like CAP through individualized classical homeopathic therapy, without the aid of antibiotics or hospitalization. Additional case studies are required to strongly establish the efficacy of classical homeopathy in such instances.

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