Improve
the immunity of children and get away from recurrent tonsillitis
Cases of repeated
infections are more common these days in day-to-day practice. Perhaps it may be
a result of changing life pattern of the parents, environmental factors and
prevailing medication. Child with strong immunity would usually remain free
from frequent childhood diseases. Weak immune children usually report with one
or the other problem frequently. Tonsillitis is one among the commonly
encountered frequent infections. Homoeopathy is known to act medicinally in
different stages of tonsillitis and prevent recurrences by enhancing immunity. Perhaps
because of this reason many parents turn to homoeopathy for managing their children’s
tonsillitis which would also improve their immunity. This article discusses
about the tonsillitis in general, effectiveness of antibiotics, causes for weak
immunity, ways to improve the immunity and the drugs to manage tonsillitis.
Tonsils
and tonsillitis – at a glance
Tonsils form a part of a
ring of lymphoid tissue which is situated in the upper air passages working as
first line of defence against infection entering either by respiratory or
digestive tracts. The second line of
defence consists of cervical glands, which drain it. In chronic conditions the inflammation can
spread to surrounding organs like ear, pharynx, etc. Normally it is advisable
not to remove tonsils because of the above function. Acute tonsillitis is a
common painful condition mostly in children. It starts with sore-throat,
difficulty in swallowing associated with malaise, fever, headache and pain in
limbs. In most of the cases it is accompanied with Group A β haemolytic
streptococcus, staphylococcus aureus, etc. If allowed to move to other body parts
may create havoc. It should not be neglected because of the serious subsequent complications
which sometimes occur like rheumatism and glomerulonephritis. It may have the
tonsil involved as general inflammation of the pharynx or it may be follicular which
is a very common form where the tonsil is red and swollen and becomes filled
with pus. This painful condition
sometimes extends to the ears.
Tonsillitis is most of the time abrupt in onset. Chronic tonsillitis may occur in persons who
had repeated acute attacks.
How
antibiotics are becoming ineffective in tonsillitis?
It is a known fact that antibiotics develop
resistance in microorganisms and diminishes immunity. The frequently quoted
example is that of Penicillin which destroys bacteria by entering the bacterium
and binding to proteins on the bacterial cell wall. Over a period of time resistance
develops when the bacteria modifies the proteins in its cell wall so that
penicillin can no longer bind effectively to the bacteria cell wall. This
resistance has become more common now and is called as antimicrobial
resistance, shortly AMR. According to WHO “this resistance is increasingly
being detected and is spreading rapidly. In some parts of the world, once
powerful medicines against many diseases have now become virtually useless.” Homoeopathy
cures different stages of tonsillitis by employing a suitable medicine as per
the presenting pathology and directly or indirectly improves the immunity.
Causes
of weak immunity
Certain
foods and environmental influences may affect the normal function of immune system. Many
microorganisms, toxins and drugs can cause the impaired immunity directly or
indirectly. It is known fact that antibiotics
develop resistance in microorganisms and diminishes immunity as mentioned above.
Obesity can lead to a depressed
immune system. Reports alarming that childhood obesity is increasing. It can
affect the ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and
rush to the site of an infection. Activation of the immune system can be
suppressed due to adverse reaction of some drugs
to treatment of other conditions.
How
to maintain the healthy immune system
After the child is born, it has to face
the challenge of a new environment and unhealthy things like pollution, change of weather and avoidable
toxic drugs. The childhood exposure to environmental pollution, food toxins
and medications are obstacles for the healthy later life. Too much of antibiotics, other harmful drugs,
artificial and junk foods are to be avoided. Children are to be encouraged
to play well and do exercises in
school. Watching the correct weight,
balanced and healthy diet and taking care of the teeth are some of the ways
to keep the system healthier. Apart from this, proper sleep and rest are to be maintained because the immune
system is strengthened by sleep and rest. Too much of stress to the children is
to be avoided. If it is observed, stress-relieving-measures and proper
medications are to be followed, because the immune system is impaired by
stress. Fresh fruits and vegetables
are found to foster a healthy immune system. Likewise, foetal undernourishment
can cause a lifelong impairment of the immune system. So care is to be taken in
this sense during pregnancy. Some home remedies like garlic and honey are known to stimulate the immune system.
Drugs to
manage tonsillitis and the weak immunity simultaneously
Atropinum
sulphuricum: It is the main alkaloid of Belladonna and has
been reported to give immediate relief of enhanced quantum expected of the drug
Belladonna. Inflammations are relieved,
pain is lowered and circulation improved. It covers pulsating pain, redness,
warm swelling and dry throat.
Baryta carbonica: Specially indicated in infants and children,
who always have swollen tonsils. Submaxillary glands and tonsils swollen. Takes
cold easily, with stitches and smarting pain. Quinsy. Suppurating tonsils from
every cold. Tonsils inflamed, with swollen veins. Smarting pain when
swallowing; worse empty swallowing. Feeling of a plug in pharynx. Can only
swallow liquids.
Baryta
muriatica: It has a great relationship to the throat
region, as such helpful in pharyngeal tonsillitis. Brings down the swelling of the tonsils and
allows the secretion to flow. Symptoms
are headache, giddiness, and humming in the ear. Conditions are worse in cold and damp
weather.
Belladonna:
Enlarged tonsils, with
feeling of constricted throat; difficult deglutition; worse, liquids. Sensation
of a lump. Acts better in 3x.
Calcarea
carbonica Hahnemanni: It suits children who apparently look
healthy, well-nourished but are sluggish both mentally and physically, are slow
at school and games, have weak muscles and are liable to sprain their ankles or
catch cold easily. It covers areas like
enlarged tonsils, enlarged cervical glands which are common in children with
low immunity.
Calcarea
fluorica: Poor assimilation of calcium often leads to
delays in dentition and this drug along with Calcarea phosphorica covers the
problem efficiently. Indication also
covers problems related to weak defences like follicular tonsillitis, sore
throat, head colds, ineffectual desire to sneeze, stuffy cold, dry coryza,
hacking cough from tickling in larynx or frequent hoarseness of voice after
crying or reading loudly.
Calcarea
phosphorica: It is
indicated for swollen tonsils, child cannot open mouth without pain. It is also useful in associated adenoid
growths.
Cinchona officinalis: A drug for tonsillitis with debility,
nervousness especially recurring in nature, it suits in the homoeopathic dosage
when anaemia is marked. It is a well verified remedy for debility,
irritability, throbbing headache, exhausted feeling due to loss of vital
fluids, anorexia (loss of appetite), etc. Fever is commonly associated.
Echinacea
angustifolia Q/1x: The drug is used to increase
resistance functions versus invasion of pathogens (micro-organisms). It is called as the antibacterial drug of
homoeopathy with advantage of acting via increase of biological immunity. It is
also a blood purifier.
Ferrum
phosphoricum: In the
first stage of inflammation. The tonsils are enlarged, hyperemic and painful. A
febrile condition may be present.
Hydrastis
canadensis: It is
effective for all kinds of mucous membrane inflammations, watery coryza,
excoriating with burning, smarting and rawness in nose, throat &
chest. Its discharges are scanty indoors
and profuse outdoors. Sneezing, dull
frontal headache, tickling in nostril with constant discharge of thick, white,
tenacious mucus are also covered.
Hepar
sulphuris: Sore throat, scraping and shooting pain in
the throat and even into the ears, as from splinters on swallowing, coughing,
breathing and turning the head. Difficulties in speaking and in swallowing are
lowered. Hawking up of mucus and dryness
in the throat are alleviated. 3x works better in follicular tonsillitis.
Kalium
bichromicum: It covers erythema of soft palate, bright or
dark red, uvula relaxed, edematous - bladder like, with sensation of a plug in
throat which is not better by swallowing.
It helps lower the discharge from mouth and throat which tends to be
tough and stringy. It is indicated for
chronic tonsillitis and sinusitis.
Kalium muriaticum: It is especially indicated for follicular
tonsillitis, tonsils are inflammed and enlarged to an extent that breathing
becomes difficult. It covers grayish
patches or spots in the throat and tonsils, adherent crusts in pharynx and sore
throat as accompanying symptom. It also
covers Eustachian catarrh.
Mercurius
iodatus flavus and ruber: Both
are indicated in tonsillitis covering individual symptoms. Mercurius iodatus flavus (Mercury proto-iodide) is a right side remedy whereas Mercurius iodatus ruber (Mercury bin-iodide)
is a left side remedy. In the former only the superficial part of the
tonsil is involved, whereas in the later the parenchymal part is involved in
the inflammation.
Phytolacca
decandra: It has
organ affinity towards tonsils and other glands and lymph nodes. It is indicated for focally, sore throat,
shooting rheumatic pains, disposition to boils, mastitis, and restlessness.
Silicea: It covers sore throat with accumulation of
mucus in the throat, severe tonsillitis,
pain as from excoriation and pricking, swelling of palate and uvula with
difficult deglutition. Expectoration of
little granules like shot, which when broken smell very offensive, is also
covered by this medicine. It stimulates healing process in general.
Source: Dr. R. Valavan, Improve the immunity of children and get away from recurrent tonsillitis, Homoeopathy For All, Vol. 14 No. 04 (160) April 15 2013
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