The onset of the monsoons brings the onset of many infectious disease because the conditions are conducive for the infective agents to travel and spread. One of the commonest infections which occurs during the rainy season but extends its stay across to the other months of the year is Amoebiasis.
Amoebiasis is caused by an innocent looking parasite called as Entamoeba histolytica which finds its habitat in water and the rainy season is the time of the year when water is very likely to be infected by it. This parasite is transferred from the infected person to others due to lack of hygiene and when water and food is shared. Drinking water being contaminated by sewage water is one of the usual risks of the monsoon season and in India the probability of this occurring is very high. It also spreads if the handlers of food at restaurants are infected. If the food contains water that is not boiled (like panipuri etc.), such foods are the usual suspects. If infected people do not follow personal hygiene and do not wash their hands properly after going to the toilet; they are likely to spread the infection. Hands can also be contaminated when changing the nappies of an infected infant. The first signs of being affected are when a person has an abrupt and urgent urge to pass stool. The frequency of stools would increase during the day and is associated with cramping pain in the abdomen. The watery stools comes with mucus; sometimes greenish but seldom blood stained. The cramps are relieved only for a little while after passing stool and seem to start again leading to an urge to pass stool again. Foul odour of stool and flatulence are the other symptoms of Amoebiasis. Another characteristic of his infection is that the patient has the urge to pass stool immediately after eating or drinking. Vomiting and fever are occasionally associated with the condition.
Homoeopathic medicine has remedies to tide over the condition. Drugs that have an action on the bowel by stopping diarrhoea are considered. Nux vomica is the remedy during an infection associated with pain in the abdomen. For loose stools Aloes and Podophyllum can be taken, if nausea and vomiting are associated with the complaint, Ipecac, Veratrum album are helpful and if cramps are predominant, Cuprum met is a useful remedy. If the mucus in stool is predominant, Merc sol, Merc cor and Colocynth can be taken for relief. The problem with Amoebiasis is that the acute episode is gone in no time but the bacteria may hibernate and continue to live in the large intestine and is likely to cause a chronic infection and can show up as a recurring problem or worse still cause conditions like abscesses of the liver. So it is important that the infection is nipped in the bud and Homoeopathic medicines are always up to the task in such a scenario.
Dr.Venugopal Gouri
92463 72625
drvenugopal@gmail.com
Bleeding gums
I have been diabetic for the past two years. I used to chew tobacco for a long time and now have bleeding gums, bad breath etc. A few teeth are loose too.
The plaque on the tooth gradually derides the gums hold on the teeth with the bacteria having access to the pulp and root causing infection. It gradually leads to bleeding gums, bad breath and even loss of teeth. Diabetes makes the situation worse as it aggravates the problem. Homeopathic medicine has remedies like Merc sol , Kreosote , Carbo veg etc. which can help relieve the infection and the symptoms. Consult a Homeopath.
