MEASLES AND HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES

                                                                      MEASLES

DEFINITION:-

Measles is an acute infectious disease caused by specific paramyxovirus and characterized by Coryza, cough, conjunctivitis, koplik’s spots and cutaneous rashes.

CAUSES AND SPREADS:-

-          Mainly caused by specific paramyxovirus.

-          More common on children’s (below 3 years) in developing countries.

-          Attacks are more common during spring and winter months.

-          The incubation period varies from 10-14 days.

-          It’s get spreads by droplet infection. Direct contact with patient or fomites.

SYMPTOMS:-

The disease passes through 2 stages, a. catarrhal stage and b. exanthematous stage.

a.       CATARRHAL STAGE:-

-          This stage lasts for 4 days. In the stage start wanning with the appearance of the rashes.

-          Coryza (sneezing, watery nasal discharges and redness of eyes) are present.

-          Temperature raises on very first day (100-103 F) subsides on 3^rd day and again raises on 4^th day with appearance of rashes.

-          Dry cough and hoarseness of voice may be present due to associated laryngitis.

-          KOPLIK’S SPOTS – tiny white spots seen inside the cheeks opposite the second molar teeth. These spots look like grains of salt spread over the red, velvety surface of the mucous membrane.

b.      EXANTHEMATOUS STAGE:-

-          The typical rash appears on the fourth day – first behind the ears, then over the forehead, face and finally trunk and limbs.

-          The rash is a pink or dusky red macule which changes into a papule in a day or 2^nd day.

-          Papules fuse together to produce irregular, blotchy areas which impart a swollen appearance to the face.

-          Rashes gets reduce in a weeks and leaving behind brownish mottling over the skin.

COMPLICATIONS:-

-          Bronchopneumonia.

-          Otitis media.

-          Corneal ulcerations.

-          Gastroenteritis.

-          Encephalomyelitis.

-          Myocarditis or hepatitis.

-          Loss of weight, retardation of growth.

-          Foetal death in pregnant women.

TREATMENT:-

-          The patient should be kept in isolation and adequate nursing care should be provided.

-          Antibiotics should be should given for preventing secondary infection.

-          Tetracycline 250 mg- 1 capsule, 6 hourly may be sufficient.

-          In case of severe bronchopneumonia gentamicin, ampicillin may be prescribed.

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT:-

1.       ACONITE:-

Great fear, anxiety, and worry accompany every ailment, however trivial. Red, inflamed eyes and Feel dry and hot, as if sand in them. Coryza much sneezing; throbbing in nostrils. Mucus membrane dry, nose stopped up; dry or with but scanty watery Coryza. Rash like measles on skin.

2.       APIS MELLIFICA:-

Extreme sensitiveness to touch and general soreness is marked. Conjunctiva bright red, puffy eyes and eye lids. Involuntary on every motion; anus seems open. Hoarseness; dyspnoea, breathing hurried and difficult. Afternoon chill, with thirst; worse on motion and heat in fever stage.

3.       BRYONIA ALBUM:-

Coryza with shooting and aching in the forehead. Dryness, sticking on swallowing, scraped and constricted. [Bell.]. Hoarseness; worse in open air. Cough, dry, at night; must sit up; worse after eating or drinking, with vomiting, with stitches in chest, and expectoration of rust-colored

sputa.

4.       EUPHRASIA:-

Catarrhal affections of mucus membranes especially of eyes and nose. Catarrhal headache, with profuse discharge from eyes and nose. Catarrhal conjunctivitis; discharge of acrid matter. Sticky mucus on cornea; must wink to remove it. Profuse, fluent coryza in morning, with much cough and expectoration. First stage of measles; eye symptoms marked.

5.       MORBILLINUM:-

Catarrh.

Coryza.

Cough.

Ear, affections of.

Eye, affections of.

Measles. Skin, affections of.

6.       PULSATILLA:-

Sub acute conjunctivitis, with dyspepsia; worse, in warm room. Profuse lachrymation and secretion of mucus. Coryza; stoppage of right nostril, pressing pain at root of nose. Capricious hoarseness; comes and goes. Measles.

7.       SULPHUR:-

Chronic dry catarrh  dry scabs and readily bleeding. Pressure as from a lump, as from splinter, as of a hair. Difficult respiration; wants windows open. Loose cough; worse talking, morning, greenish, purulent, sweetish expectoration. Dry, scaly, unhealthy; every little injury suppurates. Itching, burning; worse scratching and washing.

Some of other drugs are amm. Carb, ars album, bell, coffea, drosera, gels, rhus toxi, phos and stramonium.