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Sneeze `n' wheeze
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Besides affecting adults, allergies have also become increasingly common among children
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ALLERGY IS an abnormal reaction of the immune system to a substance that is harmless. Our body is endowed with the capacity to maintain harmony of the metabolism by warding off agents or substances that are inimical to good health.
Nevertheless, sometimes as in cases of allergy, this innate capacity finds itself reacting to innocuous and harmless substances and thereby producing a condition in the body called as allergy. Allergy can occur due to hereditary and environmental influences. If one parent has allergy, the progeny's chance of acquiring it is 50 per cent and if both parents suffer, the incidence could be as high as 80 per cent. The occurrence of allergy is commonest in children below the age of five when they are exposed to allergens for the first time in their lives.
Allergens can be inhaled, eaten, injected (insect stings) or may act on the skin of the child. The symptoms of allergy are evident on three systems of the body to start with - respiratory system, gastrointestinal system and the skin. Common allergies cause production of serous fluid in the nasal lining, which forms a fertile ground for bacteria to grow. This results in infections that can trigger rhinitis, inflammation of throat, tonsillitis and adenoiditis besides affecting the mucosa of the ear. When such infections remain chronic, they percolate down to the respiratory tract which in turn may lead to bronchitis and asthma. The common symptoms are sneezing, nasal discharge, nasal blockage, post-nasal drip, throat irritation and pain, earache, cough and wheezing.
Sometimes, the gastrointestinal system is affected due to certain foods leading to diarrhoea, vomiting and colic. Allergy of the skin is evident as a rash or mosquito-bite like swellings called urticaria and eczema. For the record, allergy of the skin and respiratory systems, termed as `atopic allergy', is rising in children. Homoeopathic medicine has excellent remedies to alleviate symptoms of nasal catarrh, cough, wheeze, itching and rash of the skin and the food allergies. These help in desensitising the child towards the allergens and over a period, exposure to the same would not lead to an overt allergic reaction.
Hepar and Pulsatilla help relieve nasal catarrh, Baryta carb and Calc carb prevent recurrent infection of tonsils and adenoids, Mercurius and Sulphur allay episodes of eczema and urticaria, Arsenic and Thuja keep at bay atopic allergy and remedies like Calc phos and Mag carb improve assimilation and prevent diarrhoea and vomiting in children.
Recurrent cysts
I have been suffering from recurrent abscesses in the gluteal region, which get filled with pus and cause severe pain. I had to undergo drainage of the abscesses on two occasions. Now I feel, the pus is beginning to accumulate. Can homoeopathy help?
Rut Sheni
HEPAR SULPH 30 three times a day for five days would help in drainage of the pus and a proper follow up with a homeopathic physician should help stop recurrence of the abscess.
Tension headache
I am a 35-year-old software professional. For the past couple of years, I've been suffering from pain and soreness of neck and shoulders, headache. Sometimes there's a sense of weakness in the right hand when I try to hold things. My doctor has ruled out diabetes and hypertension.
Smitha
GELSEMIUM 30 three doses a day for five days should relieve your pain and soreness.
Urticaria
My sister suffers from urticaria-like rash all over the body. This is more evident on the fingers and the wrists and is also associated with pain.
Shantaram Desai
BOVISTA 30C three doses a day for five days should give her relief.
Heartburn
My job involves travel and thereby irregular intake of food, usually from outside. This has lead to heartburn. During nights, I often wake up hungry. The day I eat on time I am much better.
Srinivas
LYCOPODIUM 30, three doses a day for five days should help relieve the derangement for now but in the long run you need to see that you have food on time.
DR. VENUGOPAL GOURI
Tel: 9246-372625
drvenugopal@gmail.com
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