The Irritable Child
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Sep / Oct VOL VIII NO 5.
Dr Susham Metkar
'Lyco
1½ yr-old male child, FTND, Birth weight 2.5 Kg; Normal milestones, with past history of Febrile convulsion, Family history of PGM - died of Ca Oesophagus and Fa - Typhoid, jaundice, was brought to us for recurrent Allergic Bronchitis.
| Location | Sensation | Modality | Concomitants |
| Respiratory System | Running nose + | A/F C.O.W.3 | Thirst =  2 |
| Onset- 8 mths of age | Nose block + | A/F cold drinks3 | (small qty) |
| Freq - once in 15 days |
|
A/F Banana3 | |
| Duration: 4-5 days | A/F Grapes3 | App =  |
|
| Activity = 2 |
|||
| Duration: 1 about 1-2 |
Cough+ | < morning2 | Weakness2 |
| Coughs | |||
| Freq.= once in 15 min |
|
< night 2 | Thermal: hot |
| Coughs, coughs & | |||
| Vomits2 | < 2 am - 3 am2 | ||
| Breathlessness+ Fever +(mild to mod) |
Thermal - Hot Pt.
Perspiration - forehead 2
Loud eructation ++ off X ?
Craving - meat 3, curd 2, ice-cream 2
Sleep - Good
Bowels &Amp; Urine - Normal
Milestones - Normal
Mother's state during pregnancy - normal
Life Space: Patient is thin with a naughty look on the face, staying in a family of parents and elder sister. Mo 34 yrs old and Housewife, Fa 38 yrs, technician in a hospital and elder sister 7 years old.
Patient is obstinate; his parents should fulfill his demands, come what may. If not fulfilled he throws whatever objects come in his hands. He breaks toys, throws the utensils. He beats up his parents in anger, even throws anything on the TV and breaks his toys. He runs behind the dog, catches cockroach in his hand. But he has fear of darkness and runs to mother when electricity goes off. Father described the child's nature as easily angered, but mixing- he mixes easily with people.
If his mother carries another child, he screams and continues to cry loudly till she puts the child away and takes him (Jealousy).
Observation: The child did not allow clinical examination till 3rd or 4th visit. He would cry loudly. When he sits besides his father he sits confidently, with arms on the side of the chair.
Remedy Chosen: Lycopodium on basis ofObstinate 3
Irritable +1 - throws things, breaks toys
Cravings - meat3, curd2, icecream
Perspiration. - forehead
Hot Pt.
Loud gases +1
D/D Calc-iod comes as a close runner-up
But his dominating streak, the temper tantrums whenever less attention was paid towards him with the fears & the confident look on the face with physical of loud eructation++ decided in favour of Lycopodium.
Planning And Programming
Constitutional: Lycopodium
Acute : Coccus-cacti 200
Inter Current: Tub-b 1M
Detailed Follow up:
| 16/4/99 | Cold | Puls 200 BD 2 days |
| 17/4/99 | Slight Fever | Tub-b 1M - 1 HS |
| 18/4/99 | Fever 104 - Over stepping? Watch and give Constitutional. | Lyco 200 - 1 HS |
| 19/4/99 | Fever 102 < evening - Improving- watch. | Placebo |
| 21/4/99 | Active App ¯ .T99-100. Generals coming in- so needs IC | Tub-b 1M - 2nd |
| 23/4/99 | >3 Irritability.> 2 | Lyco 200 -2nd |
| 30/4/99 | Fever 0 Irritability >2 | Lyco 200 - 3rd |
| 26/6/99 | > x 2 M minimal cold | Lyco 200 - 4th dose |
| 10/7/99 | > x 2 w. 4 d dry mild coryza | Lyco 200 - 5th dose |
Comments: Rx was started on 16/4/99 with Lyco 200. It was given 5 times within a span of 5 months and Tub 1M given infrequently. Whenever in the beginning of an acute phase if the generals like activity, sleep and app were normal, the acute was controlled with constitutional itself, without resorting to the acute. This approach has been found to greatly cut short the period of illness.
Two Acute but mild attacks of Allergic bronchitis, since the Rx started > Coccus-cacti 200
Obstinacy and Irritability >
Does not throw things
Gases >2
The prescrition of Coccus-cacti was based on the totality- 1.Sensations- cough, coughs and vomits 2. Characteristic time modality Cough < 2-3 am.
Repetition of Lyco was made when the constitutional symptoms came up.- cold, cough without Therefore once is 1-11/2 month repetition has been done in this case to fulfill the need of susceptibility.
As a result of the treatment the child started having bananas , grapes and could tolerate food from the fridge.
