A study of Allergic Rhinitis in children and Homoeopathy

A prospective study of Allergic Rhinitis in children & its Homoeopathic management.
Dr Nahida M Mulla

Abstract:
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most commonly diagnosed health disorders among children. AR affects up to 20 percent of children. Boys are twice as likely to get allergic rhinitis as girls. The median age of onset of the condition is 10 years old, meaning that equal numbers of children develop the condition before and after age 10. Half of children develop the condition before age 10, and half after that time. Allergic rhinitis is the most common chronic disease in children. About one in five children has symptoms by the age of 2 or 3 years .A study in  found that 42% of children were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis by the age of six.  Commonly called hay fever. Allergy symptoms can have a profound effect on a child’s health, behavior and ability to learn. Left untreated, allergic rhinitis also can lead to a host of other serious conditions, including asthma, recurrent middle-ear infections, sinusitis, sleep disorders and chronic cough. The present study was undertaken to fulfill the following objectives:  

Aims and Objectives:

• To study the pattern of presentation of allergic rhinitis in children.
• To study the miasmatic background and its implication on allergic rhinitis in children.
• To study the Homoeopathic management of allergic rhinitis in children.
• To study the efficacy of Homoeopathic remedies in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in children.

Material and Methods:

SOURCES OF DATA
The subject for this study were taken from A.M. Shaikh Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, OPD/IPD and village health camps.

METHOD OF COLLECTION OF DATA (INCLUDING SAMPLING PROCEDURE, (IF ANY)

Following is the inclusion criteria fixed for the study:

Subjects from 0-12 years and of both the sexes irrespective of socioeconomic status.

Following is the exclusion criteria fixed for the study:

• Subjects with active treatment for any other chronic disease.
• Subjects with worm infestations having high eosinophil count.

Patients were selected on the basis of inclusion & exclusion criterias. A detailed case history was taken with clinical presentation & necessary investigations were done.

Patients were reviewed on every seventh day for the first two months and later every 15 days for the remaining period of study.

No sampling procedure was adapted.

All the cases of allergic rhinitis were taken for the study, between the periods of December 2005 to 31^st December 2007. (No new cases were taken up for the study after June 2007. only follow up was continued till December 2007).

Total Number of cases = 77.

CRITERIA OF BASIC ASSESSMENT OF RESPONSE:

(A)  Subjective: General condition; Appetite; Thirst; Bowels; Sleep; Itching.

(B)  Objective: Sneezing; Nasal discharge; Nasal obstruction.

Results: 1) To study the pattern of presentation of Allergic rhinitis in children.

 2) To study the miasmatic background & its implications on Allergic Rhinitis in children.

 3) To study the Homoeopathic management of Allergic Rhinitis in children.

REMEDIES — USED:

4) To study the efficacy of Homoeopathic remedies in the treatment of Allergic rhinitis in children.

Conclusion:

The following valid conclusion can be drawn from the study.

1. The maximum incidence of the patients suffering from allergic rhinitis is in the age group of 2-10  years.
2. Males were found to be more prone to allergic rhinitis compared to females in this study.
3. The constitutional remedies which gave maximum benefit to the patients were mainly Ars Album, Nux Vom, Pulsatilla, Sulphur, Nat Mur,  Kali mur, Silicea, Calc carb, Natrum sulph & Kali bich.
4. The constitutional remedies gave maximum relief to the patients. The patient improved faster after the administration of constitutional remedies.
5. The miasmatic and constitutional approach of treatment was only successful when they were integrated. This study gave me a better idea in my attempt to treat cases of Allergic rhinitis.
6. Homoeopathic Management of Allergic rhinitis is able to annihilate the disease and helps to reduce the intensity and frequency of the episode of Allergic rhinitis.
7. There is a better scope in Homoeopathic for the treatment of Allergic rhinitis, since the treatment is based on holistic and individualistic approach.
8. Homoeopathic remedies not only annihilate the disease but also prevents the complications associated with it. However further studies need to be carried out to understand the finer menaces of the disease.
9. This was a modest effort on my part to find the role of Homoeopathic medicines in the treatment of different types of Allergic rhinitis and the response in this study is quite satisfactory. 

Dr Nahida M Mulla
Principal, AM Shik Homoeopathic Medical College
Belagaum