SCARLET FEVER
Scarlet fever is a rash accompanied by a sore throat
caused by the streptococcus bacteria. The disease most commonly
affects children, but can occur in any age group. The characteristic
symptoms are a rash and a 'strawberry tongue'.
The rash of scarlet fever usually begins like a bad sunburn with
tiny bumps (papules), and it may itch. The rash usually appears
first on the neck and face, often leaving a clear unaffected area
around the mouth. It spreads to the chest and back, then to the
rest of the body. In body creases, especially around the underarms
and elbows, the rash forms classic red streaks called Pastia's lines.
Areas of rash usually blanch (turn white) when you press on them.
By the sixth day of a strep infection the rash usually fades, but
the affected skin may begin to peel.
Children with strep throat infections also commonly have: chills,
body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
Homeopathic Medicine & Treatment for Scarlet Fever
#Belladonna. [Bell]
this remedy corresponds to the asthenic type, with a bright red
rosy hue to the skin,a bright red throat, pain in the epigastrium,
the strawberry tongue and the glandular swellings. Thus it is seem
that it corresponds to the smooth bright red,Sydenham variety of
scarlet fever. It has no correspondence with a miliary rash or with
malignant symptoms. There are usually present in a well-marked Belladonna
case symptoms of cerebral irritation, such as delirium, twitching
of muscles, uneasy sleep. Mercurius will be indicate in certain
epidemics by its characteristic throat symptoms, but Belladonna
is more often called for. Aconite may be needed at the onset if
its symptoms be present, though this remedy usually finds no place
in the treatment of conditions due to a poisoned state of the blood.
Hahnemann's discovery that Belladonna is a prophylactic in scarlet
fever has been abundantly verified in practice. Sulphur is also
a most useful remedy to use in scarlet fever, but its especial field
is for the sequelae bursting forth upon a scrofulous diathesis.
#Gelsemium. [Gels]
Here the patients are quiet and listless; they are prostrated and
stupid; the pulse is throbbing but compressible, and at the onset
of the disease it suits cases where neither Aconite nor Belladonna
re indicated. The asthenic form, with great prostration is more
often met with in poorly nourished children, and here Gelsemium
is often the remedy. If the case develops any special malignancy
of symptoms other remedies will be needed.
#Bryonia. [Bry]
Bryonia is a remedy often of great value. When we recall its headache,
white then brownish tongue, the characteristic thirst, the sharp
pains in the tardy development of the rashes, occurring perhaps
sin blotches and resembling that of measles, or a disappearing rash
with possibly delirium on waking, Bryonia will do good service.
#Ailanthus. [Ail]
This is a most potent antidote to malignant scarlet fever and suits
especially severe cases. The patient lies in a stupor, the rash
is imperfect, dark and purplish;swollen, livid throat and infiltration
of the cellular tissue about the neck; excoriating nasal discharge,
drowsiness and prostration, violent vomiting, severe headache and
dizziness, small quick pulse, the stools thin, bloody and offensives
and there is much foetor to all the discharges. It will save life
oftentimes in the most desperate cases. Arum triphyllum has excoriating
discharges from the nose,swollen tongue, sore throat; the child
is restless and irritable, he tosses about. The extreme soreness
of the throat is characteristic of Arum ;the lips and nose are irritated
and the child picks at them until they bleed.
#Rhus toxicodendron. [Rhus-t]
A most useful remedy in adynamic forms of scarlet fever. Here the
child is restless, drowsy, has a red and smooth tongue, oedematous
fauces, the parotids are especially apt to swell or suppurate, the
eruption does not come out well, and when it does come out is is
miliary. The great depression, weakness and bodily restlessness
and the supervening of rheumatic symptoms late in the disease will
serve to indicate Rhus. Apis mellifica must be carefully distinguished
from Rhus. This remedy has high fever, restlessness and nervous
agitation; the mouth and throat are red and the tongue blistered;
there is early prostration and scanty urine, drowsiness, miliary
rash. It is a remedy ;only occasionally useful in scarlet fever;
it stands midway between Belladonna and Rhus toxicodendron; there
will generally be present an oedematous condition of the skin and
throat, and the skin will prick and sting. It come in well, however,
in albuminuria following scarlet fever.
#Lachesis. [Lach]
This remedy suits forms of the disease having a malignant tendency;
the child is drowsy and the rash comes out imperfectly and slowly,
is dark interspersed with a miliary rash; the throat is inflamed,
the cervical glands are swollen, the tongue is dirty yellow. It
suits cases core adynamic than those calling for Rhus. Hydrocyanic
acid is also sometimes indicated in scarlet fever o;f a malignant
type, and Muriatic acid suits malignant cases oftentimes better
than either Rhus or Lachesis. With this acid the rash comes out
sparingly and is interspersed with petechiae or bluish spots; the
child is restless, throws off the bedclothes; the skin takes on
a purple hue and there is great weakness and prostration, delirium,
a rapid intermitting pulse, foul breath, acrid nasal discharge and
sore, bleeding ulcerations in the mouth. Under Arsenicum the rash
comes out imperfectly; the child is thrown into convulsions and
then relapses into a stupor.
#Ammonium carbonicum. [Am-c]
This is also a useful remedy in scarlet fever. The throat is swollen
internally and externally,the glands are enlarged, the tonsils are
swollen and bluish and the child is drowsy. The drowsiness, miliary
eruption and dark throat will distinguish from Belladonna.
#Zincum. [Zinc]
Zincum will be needed in certain enervated children who become restless
and delirious, or else are quit and unconscious and very weak, too
weak in fat to develop an eruption, and as a result of this non-development
of the eruption brain symptoms, such as meningitis with sharp pains
through the head, supervene. In these cases it will often bring
out the eruption and safe the child. Cuprum may be needed in troubles
from a suppressed rash and Calcarea carbonica must be thought of
for scrofulous children with an undeveloped or receding rash. Kali
sulphuricum is a remedy for the stage of desquamation. |
