A very cute looking child, Master S.C.J. (Patient Identification Number 14526) was brought to the center for treatment of Nephrotic Syndrome and recurrent respiratory infections. He was suffering from nephrotic syndrome from two and a half years. He was five years old. His parents had brought his medical information written in the form of proper charts and date wise details. From his records they were narrating the details. He had relapsed 14 times in two and a half years. He had a relapse once in two to three months. Each relapse would last for fifteen to twenty days. The relapse was triggered by cold, cough, fever, loose motions or after stopping the dose of steroids, since the last six months he would relapse on reducing the dose of omnacortil beyond 5 mg alternate day.
The pediatrician was managing him on as low dose of steroids as possible. Whenever the dose was increased due to relapses, he would get pain in the abdomen and irritability. His appetite would increase.
Each episode would present with swelling on the face and around the eyes and protein loss and frothy urine and protein loss of 2+, 3+ or some times 4 +.
He would get frequent cold and cough. This would cause a relapse. The cold and cough would be triggered by change in weather, cold food and drinks, outside food. If anyone in the home had colds, he would also get cold and cough. He frequently required antibiotics. Thus he was a very delicate child with low immunity. Each episode of respiratory infection was punished with a relapse in the NS.
The pediatrician had said that he was going into steroid dependency. There seemed nothing which could bring him out of the vicious cycle.
They had tried Ayurvedic treatment, however there was no relief.
Then his father searched over the internet and got information about homeopathic treatment for nephrotic syndrome. They visited the center on 9 July 2010.
All his details were taken in detail.
His mother had also suffered from recurrent colds in her pregnancy. She had taken cetrizine on several occasions for colds, during pregnancy. His father was working in a pharmaceutical company and his mother was a teacher. They were a nuclear family.
The child was a low birth baby and he had suffered from neonatal jaundice.
He was lean, sensitive to hot weather and he was irritable by temperament.
He had a preference for sweets. He always suffered from flatulence and evening colic as an infant. There was a family history of diabetes and hypothyroid.
Dr Shah examined the child and evaluated his case details. He prescribed Lycopodium 30c for the child.
He followed up 27 August 2010. He was stable; he was still on 10 mg of omnacortil. He had not suffered from any major respiratory infections, in the last 6 weeks.
He followed up again on 12 November 2010. The respiratory infections were very less now. He followed up at the center on 19 January 2011. His pediatrician had stopped omnacortil since there was no protein leakage in the last three months. The intensity and frequency of respiratory infections had also reduced.
On 5 March 2011, they reported of proteins in urine. He had consulted the nephrologist and was started on 10 mg of omnacortil. He had developed a allergy which triggered this relapse. Dr Shah prescribed Apis Mellifica 200c for the urticarial rash. He followed up on 20 May; the steroids were stopped a month ago. Dr Shah upgraded the dose to Lycopodium 200c. On 23 July 2011, he reported good progress; he was off steroid since two months. He was well till October. On 11 October, his father called up as the child had got high grade fever. His pediatrician prescribed antibiotics and advised urine proteins. To their surprise, the urine protein were absent despite high grade fever! No steroids were required! There was no relapse! He reported again on 6 December 2011.
There was no relapse in the last one year, there was no need for steroids for the last one year, and there were no major respiratory complaints in the last one year. His weight was 16 kg when he started treatment, it now 22 kg on 31 January 2011.
We have given every detail of this case. How beautifully; homeopathic medicines improved his immunity, thereby reducing the relapses. How beautifully; homeopathic medicines corrected his immune system thereby preventing his relapses.
Why does relapse occur when these kids get infection?
Answer: In NS, the child’s own immune system attacks the kidney and cause protein leakage. When the children get infection, the immune response is boosted to fight and over come the infection. This enhanced immune system also increases the protein leakage (friendly fire)
So first, the immunity has to be improved so that these children do not get recurrent infections and secondly the immunity has to be corrected so that it does not misfire.
(So that they do not attack the kidney)
This is exactly what we see in this case study.
Homeopathy is a boon in nephrotic syndrome.
Are steroids bad? No, not at all.
Steroids in nephrotic syndrome are indispensable; they prevent damage to the kidney and help to tide over relapses.
They are good for the acute phase; however they do not help to prevent relapses, which is the bane of nephrotic syndrome.
A wonderful synergy of conventional and homeopathic treatment helps to unwind the child from this dreaded disease. Steroids are beneficial for the acute phase, and homeopathy to prevent recurrences.
Dr Shah calls this a strategic combination. At Life Force, we never regulate the dose of steroids. The treating nephrologists reduce them as the disease activity reduces.
Uploaded on 14th Feb 2012 by Dr. AP