Utility of Homoeopathic Medicines in Clinical Practice Relating to Typhoid Fever

Abstract

Typhoid is one of the most serious infectious bacterial diseases in third world countries. It is usually
treated by traditional antibiotics but due to the appearance of antibiotic resistant strains physicians opt
for phyto products and other alternative medicines for the treatment of typhoid. Typhoid or enteric
fever is a condition in which there is an insidious fever, a typical course of temperature, marked
abdominal symptoms.
Typhoid fever is most prevalent in developing countries where sanitary water and sewage systems are
lacking. Persons with typhoid fever usually have a sustained fever as high as 103° to 104° F (39° to
40° C). Typhoid fever is an acute illness that caused by salmonella typhi organism that characterized
by fever, headache as abdominal symptoms or constipation, pea soup diarrhoea, with splenomegaly
and leucopenia, the enteric fever has been used in medical literature to describe the typhoid and para
typhoid fevers. Enteric fever is observed all through the year, the peak incidences is reported during
July to September. This period coincides with rainy season and increase in fly population.
The bacilli are found in water, ice, food, milk, and soil for varying periods of time. Typhoid bacilli do
not multiply in water, many of them perish within 48 hours, but some may survive for about 7 days.
Typhoid fever is transmitted via faeco-oral route or urine oral routes. This may take place directly
through soiled hands contaminated with faeces or urine of cases are carriers or indirectly by the
ingestion of contaminated water, milk, food or through flies.
The disease remains an important public health problem in developing countries in 2000, it was
estimated that over 2.16 million episodes of typhoid occurring worldwide, resulting in 2,16,000 deaths
and that more than 90% of this morbidity and mortality occurred in Asia. The present studies found
that administration of Homoeopathic medicines possibly caused a salmonella-like reaction in the body
as this extract produces an endogenous antibody similar to salmonella reaction. Homoeopathy view
microorganisms not as the cause for disease but rather as opportunist invaders to an already weakened
body. The disease diagnosis is important but in Homoeopathy, the cause of disease is not just probed
to the level of bacteria and viruses. Homoeopathic medicine stimulates the natural healing power of
the body and the illness is driven outward and thrown off. Homoeopathy is well known for the
treatment of chronic illness. But even acute cases show quick response without side effects. Modern
medical system treats typhoid fever through a long course of antibiotics taking several weeks.
Homoeopathic treatment is usually very effective and prompt in treating typhoid fever. Homoeopathic
remedy selected according to the symptoms does not take too long in curing the typhoid fever
completely.
Thus, this study suggests that Homoeopathic medicines can be used for the prevention and treatment
of typhoid.