Asthma is a syndrome of variable airflow obstruction. It is characterized by bronchial inflammation with prominent eosinophil infiltration, variable cough, chest tightness and wheeze.
Classification
1. Extrinsic asthma
2. Intrinsic asthma
3. Mixed forms
EXTRINSIC ASTHMA
CLINICAL FEATURES
Seen in young persons, child or teenage. Most having history of eczema during their childhood, and family history of asthma eczema or hay fever. Intermittent attacks are seen. Attacks are acute but usually self-limiting. Prognosis is favorable.
INTRINSIC ASTHMA.
CLINICAL FEATURES.
Seen in the adult patients over 35 yrs or more. No history of eczema in childhood. Attacks related to infection, exercise, etc. Attacks are more fulminant and severe. Prognosis is poor.
Asthmatic attack
1-premonitory symptoms/asthmatic symptoms/asthmatic aura-
Sneezing,flatulence,drowsiness,restlessness, and irritability.
Dry irritant cough may precede or accompany attacks of wheezy breathlessness.
2. Paroxysm: usually seen in the middle of the night. Sense of oppression in the chest. Patient sits up and leans forward fighting for breath or runs to the window to relieve the sense of suffocation. Wheezing heard. Anxiety, cyanosis, perspiration and cold extremities are seen.
3. Termination: spontaneously or as a result of therapy. As bronchial spasm gets less, patient can cough a little and may bring out viscid mucofibrin.
4. Duration of attack: It varies from few minutes to several hours. Sometimes paroxysms are continuous -status asthmaticus.
The association between atopy and asthma suggests that sensitation and exposure by allergens is an important risk factor. Warm humid centrally heated homes favor the multiplication of house dust mites. This contributes child hood asthma. The relationship between exposure to pet and asthma is a little controversial. Some say pet exposure in early life may offer a protective role against asthma. Milk fat vitamin E and selenium may protect the child from asthma. However, cow’s milk protein may develop atopy and asthma.
INVESTIGATION:
1. Chest radiograph: It may be normal, or show the signs segmental or lobar collapse.
2. Full blood count: eosinophilia
3. Sputum: eosinophil, Charcot, and at times Curschmann spirals may appear.
4. Skin tests: It may confirm allergens suggested by history.
5. Provocation test (challenge) test: exercise challenge tests useful in young adults and can be used to confirm the diagnosis of asthma, since fall in FEV1or PEFR occurs after 5-7 minutes of vigorous exercise.
6. IgE and IgE specific test
Treatment-
General treatment.
Keep away from dust, mites and pollen
Avoid blankets
Keep away furry things like the teddy bear, especially in children
Keep away from smoke and other atmospheric pollution.
Aim of homeopathic treatment
To cut short the episodes.
To reduce intensity and severity.
Complete cure in children and young adults.
Palliation in old aged persons.
Homeopathy is the apt choice for the treatment of asthma. It works wonders in asthma. Both the acute exacerbation, as well as chronic asthma can be completely curable in the homeopathic system of treatment.
In acute onset, the time of aggravations, and other worsening factors, amelioration factors, and positions, etc. are all taken into consideration.
And the selected remedy is given in a frequent interval until an improvement is obtained.
Once the acute episode is controlled then it is time to give a miasmatic remedy that cures completely in a permanent manner.
For this, a detailed case taking as per homeopathic philosophy is needed. The mental and physical built of the patient with his and family histories are needed. The remedy thus selected is usually tried in medium potency. Since it being a chronic disease, remedies may change when the symptoms changes. In short, homeopathy and homeopathic medicine is a ray of hope for asthma. Especially in situations where the conventional treatments like bronchodilators, inhalers, etc. have got too many demerits.
Acute cases are managed by Antimonum tart in different potencies, Ars alb, Amm- carb, Grindelia Q, SenegaQ, Spongia Q, etc.
Thuja, Syphyllinum, Bacillinum, kali carb etc. are the main remedies
