Applied Anatomy
The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, nasopharynx, and larynx. It is lined by vascular mucous membrane with ciliated epithelium on the surface. The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea and bronchi. These form an interconnecting tree of conducting airways eventually joining via around 64,000 terminal bronchioles, with the alveoli to form acini. The lower respiratory tract is lined with ciliated epithelium as far as the terminal bronchioles. The larynx and large bronchi are richly supplied with sensory nerve receptors involved in the cough reflex. The acinus is the gas exchange unit of the lung and comprises of branching respiratory bronchioles leading to cluster of alveoli. The alveoli are lined mostly with flattened epithelial cells (type I pneumocytes). Upper Respiratory Tract Infections Clinically following major conditions are included in URI:
So we see that influenza and acute bronchitis (considered in URI because it is often a sequel of common cold) are the two most common reasons for URI pyrexia. We also see that most of the URI’s are interrelated as cause, complication, or symptamatology. Therefore clinically it may not always be possible to delineate just one URI for a patient. And also it hardly matters because in Allopathy the treatment is nearly same, whatever be the name and in Homoeopathy we treat the patient guided by the symptoms, whatever be the name of the disease. Symptoms of Upper Respiratory Infections
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Repertorial Rubrics
Although many symptoms may be considered for upper respiratory infections but we will here consider only those rubrics, which suggest that the URI is associated with fever.
Rubrics in Kent
- Catarrhal fever – Acon, Bry, Hep, Merc / ars, ferr p, kali i, rhus t, sabad.
- Coryza, fever with – Bry, Merc / acon, ars, bell, hep, sang // all c, gels.
- Pain extremities, influenza during – Bry, Eup p / acon, caust, chel, euph, gels
Rubrics in Boericke
- Influenza – Acon, Ars, Ars I, Bapt, Bell, Brom, Bry, Carb ac, Cepa, Ahin s, Dulc, Eucal, Eup p, Gels, Lob p, Nat s, Nux v, Phos, Rhus t, Sabad, Sang n, Sticta.
- Bronchitis – Acon, Ant t, Bell, Brom, Bry, Caust, Dulc, Ferr p, Hep, Ipec, Kali bi, Merc s, Phos, Puls, Rumex, Sang, Sang n, Scilla, Sticta, Sul.
- Cough, causes influenza – Eriod, Kali bi, Kreos, Pix l, Sang.
Materia Medica
Based on the above rubrics we will discuss the following commonly indicated medicines in URI pyrexia:
- Aconite
- Arsenic alb.
- Belladona
- Bryonia
- Eupatorium p.
- Euphrasia
- Ferrum phos.
- Gelsemium
- Hepar sulph.
- Merc sol.
- Natrum mur.
- Rhus tox
Aconite
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Arsenic alb Cause: Chill, in winter, taking ice, ice cream, cold fruits Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
Concomitants:
Modalities:
Eupatorium perf. Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
Concomitants:
Modalities:
Euphrasia Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
Concomitants:
Modalities:
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Rhus tox
Cause:
Wetting, too much summer bathing, getting wet when heated.
Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
- Sneezing; coryza from getting wet.
- Tip of nose red, sore, ulcerated. Swelling of nose.
- Sore throat with swollen glands.
- Sticking pain on swallowing.
- Dry teasing cough from midnight until morning, during a chill, or when putting hands out of bed.
- Tickling behind sternum.
- Influenza, with aching of bones.
- Fever, adynamic, with restlessness and trembling.
- Chill with dry cough and restlessness.
- Chilly as if cold water was poured over him, followed by heat and inclination to stretch.
Concomitants:
- Triangular red tipped tongue
- Restlessness, changes place frequently
- Sensitiveness to open air.
- Better by motion.
- Desire for milk
Modalities:
< During sleep, cold, wet rainy weather and after rain, at night, during rest, drenching, when lying on back or right side.
> Warm, dry weather, motion, change of position, rubbing, warm applications, from stretching out limbs.
Hepar sulph
Cause:
Cold in general.
Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
- Soreness of nostrils with catarrhal troubles.
- Sneezes every time he goes into cold, dry wind, with running from nose, later thick, offensive discharge.
- Nose stopped up every time he goes into cold.
- Smell like old cheese.
- When swallowing, sensation as if a plug and of a splinter in throat.
- Quinsy, with impending suppuration.
- Stitches in throat extending to the ear when swallowing.
- Hawking up of mucus.
- Loses voice and coughs when exposed to dry, cold wind.
- Dry hoarse cough. Cough troublesome when walking.
- Cough excited whenever any part of the body gets cold or uncovered, or from eating anything cold.
- Croup with loose, rattling cough; worse in morning.
- Choking cough. Rattling, croaking cough.
- Suffocative attacks, has to rise up and bend backwards.
- Fever with dry heat at night.
- Chilly in open air or from slightest draught.
- Profuse sweat; sour, sticky, and offensive.
Concomitants:
- Oversensitive both physically and mentally.
- Sweat profusely day and night without any relief, which is sour and offensive.
- Sensation of splinter, fish bone, or plug in throat.
- Discharges are very much sour.
Modalities:
< From dry cold winds; cool air; slightest draught; touch, lying on painful side.
> Damp weather, from wrapping head up, from warmth, after eating.
Merc sol.
Symptoms indicating URI pyrexia
- Much sneezing. Sneezing in sunshine.
- Nostrils raw, ulcerated; nasal bones swollen.
- Coryza; acrid discharge, but too thick to run down the lip; worse warm room.
- Coryza, with sneezing; sore, raw, smarting sensation; worse damp weather.
- Coryza profuse, fluent. Copious discharge of corroding mucus.
- Profuse burning, acrid discharge from eyes.
- Soreness from fauces to sternum.
- Cannot lie on right side.
- Cough with yellow, muco-purulent expectoration.
- Paroxysms of two; worse night, and warmth of bed.
- Catarrh, with chilliness; dread of air.
- Stitches from lower lobe of right lung to back.
- Fever, with profuse nightly sweat; debility, slow and lingering.
- Heat and shuddering alternately.
- Yellow perspiration. Profuse perspiration without relief.
- Creeping chilliness; worse in the evening and into night.
- Alternate flashes of heat in single parts.
Concomitants:
- Intense thirst for large quantities of cold water.
- Tongue moist, large, flabby, yellow, with imprint of teeth.
- Salivation increased.
Modalities:
< at night, wet, damp weather, lying on right side, perspiring, warm room