Welcome to Gouri Homoepathy Clinic - Homeopathy in srinagar colony - Homeopathy clinic in srinagar colony - homeo clinic in srinagar colony - homeo clinic in srinagar colony - multi speciality homeo clinic in srinagar colony - multi speciality homeo clinic in srinagar colony - best doctor in homeopathy in srinagar colony - good Homeopathy doctor in srinagar colony - homeo doctor in srinagar colony - Homeopathy clinic in srinagar colony - homeopathy in srinagarcolony - Homeopathy clinic in hyderabad - homeo clinic in hyderabad - homeo clinic in hyderabad - multi speciality homeo clinic in hyderabad - multi speciality homeo clinic in hyderabad - best doctor in homeopathy in hyderabad - good Homeopathy doctor in hyderabad - homeo doctor in hyderabad - Gouri Homoepathy in hyderabad - Homeopathy clinic in hyderabad - Homeopathy in madhapur - Homeopathy clinic in madhapur - homeo clinic in madhapur - homeo clinic in madhapur - multi speciality homeo clinic in madhapur - multi speciality homeo clinic in madhapur - best doctor in homeopathy in madhapur - good Homeopathy doctor in madhapur - homeo doctor in madhapur - Homeopathy clinic in madhapur - homeopathy in kondapur - Homeopathy clinic in kondapur - homeo clinic in kondapur - homeo clinic in kondapur - multi speciality homeo clinic in kondapur - multi speciality homeo clinic in kondapur - best doctor in homeopathy in kondapur - good Homeopathy doctor in kondapur - homeo doctor in kondapur - Gouri Homoepathy in kondapur - Homeopathy clinic in kondapur - homeopathy in gachibowli - Homeopathy clinic in gachibowli - homeo clinic in gachibowli - homeo clinic in gachibowli - multi speciality homeo clinic in gachibowli - multi speciality homeo clinic in gachibowli - best doctor in homeopathy in gachibowli - good Homeopathy doctor in gachibowli - homeo doctor in gachibowli - Gouri Homoepathy in gachibowli

Complementary Medicine for Septic Emergencies

Any infectious agent whether it is a virus which keeps changing ‘shapes’, a bacteria which keeps adapting itself and develops resistance against antibiotics and last but not the least, the fungi which are always stubborn to exterminate, have always been the scourge and a challenge to the human body’s immune system. The severity of an infection can be as bad as a stage wherein the infected needs to be wheeled into an emergency with failing vital functions and deteriorating organs which are not under the sway of the system anymore and are under the greater influence of the organisms causing the infection and such a stage is called sepsis, which can ultimately lead to “shock” and even death if it is not reversed on time. Not surprisingly this is one of the tenth leading causes of death even in a developed country like the United States, while 40% of the affected die within the first month. In such a scenario any modality which can reduce the mortality while the morbid conditions remain suppressed later so that the individual can have better life is of utmost importance. This is where Homoeopathic medicine has been known to help as a complementary medicine even as the management of sepsis is being done with therapeutically aggressive application of antibiotics.

What is Sepsis?

The presence of bacteria in the blood is known as bacteremia. This bacteria can arise in the blood, lungs, skin, urine or other tissues and causes inflammation which could spread to other areas of the body and cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which is fever, high heart rate, increased respiratory rate, and elevated white blood cell count. SIRS plus a suspected or proven infection is called Sepsis. Severe sepsis is defined as sepsis with organ dysfunction (low blood pressure, decreased urine output, mental confusion, decreased platelets, low oxygen and acidosis). Septic shock is defined as severe sepsis plus continued low blood pressure despite adequate fluid resuscitation.

What happens in Sepsis?

The symptoms could come on rapidly. There is a culmination of complex interactions between the infecting microorganism and the host immune, inflammatory, and coagulation responses. The body’s immune system evokes a widespread response causing activation of acute phase proteins in the circulation thereby affecting the complement system which influences the functions of the many organs of the body; the coagulation pathways which lead to fine bleeding tendencies across the surface of the body including the brain, etc. When the nerves conducting impulses to the endocrine glands are affected there is a start of loss of function of multiple organs of the body. For example in the lungs can develop acute respiratory failure wherein the oxygen level falls, carbon dioxide levels rise, there is failure of exchange of gases in the lungs due to damage to the parenchyma or the functional portion of the lungs and the patient will require ventilator support. The liver can get affected causing protein synthesis to get disturbed and not making enough clotting factors. The dullness of the kidneys can lead to decrease urine output and disturbing the body's electrolyte balance. The vascular resistance of the body increases and causes more pressure on the heart but the heart's pump function is not working as well causing the volume of output at every beat to be drastically reduced causing severe damage to the heart cells. The brain can show symptoms of agitation, confusion and finally lead to coma and loss of function in the area.

Management of Sepsis : -

Rapid diagnosis and expeditious treatment are critical and that within the first 6 hours or presentation. - Identify the source of infection (lung, abdomen, skin, kidney, or brain). - Measure the arterial blood gas, lactic acid level, complete blood count, and obtain any necessary cultures or imaging. - Assess organ function by checking electrolytes, liver function tests, and clotting factors. - Administer oxygen to keep a good level of oxygen saturation and usually more than 50% of patients will require ventilator support. - Rapidly resuscitate the patient with intravenous fluids (normal saline or lactate ringer's) to help maintain good perfusion to all the important tissues and organs in the body as well improve cardiac output. Adequate resuscitation is monitored by maintaining central venous pressure between 8-12 mmHg, which is measured via a central line catheter. - Use inotropic and vasopressor agents such as norephinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, or vasopressin to help increased blood pressure and maintain adequate perfusion if fluids are not enough. Adequate fluid balance and inotropic agents will help relieve pressure on the functional unit of the kidneys and help maintain adequate perfusion of the kidneys.

- Always keep the hemoglobin above 10 by giving any necessary blood transfusions.

- Addition of corticosteroids has seen to be beneficial in most patients whose body is too weak to fight the stress response.

- If the liver is affected, treat with rapid removal of the infection and maintaining adequate perfusion so that the synthesis of coagulation factors will not be affected.

- Provide early nutritional support to the body as it helps the body obtain the energy needed to fight the infection.

- Treat the underlying problem by appropriate broad spectrum antibiotic therapy. Sometimes surgical intervention is necessary to clear out pus filled cavities, infected necrotic tissue, bowel infarcts, inflamed gall bladders or obstructed kidney stones.

How does Homoeopathic Medicine help? :

-Once the cause of the problem is identified it will become much easier as homoeopathic remedies can be chose according to the sphere of action on particular organs of the body. For example an infectious focus in the lungs responds well to remedies like Ars iod, Ferrum phos, Hepar sulph etc. while abdominal infections are known to respond better to Colchicum, Hyoscyamus and Lycopodium.

-Once the arterial blood gas level is measured and if the oxygen concentration is low Carbo veg, Amm carb are a couple of remedies which will help along with the ventilator support.

-When the lactic acid levels increase Solidago is a remedy which will help in maintaining the balance.

-An increased white blood cell count is always in response to scavenge out the infectious agent from the circulation and tissues and Baptisia fortifies it further.

-the stress on the kidney and electrolyte metabolism is corrected by remedies like Kali chlor, Natrum mur, apis mel etc. -The liver is balanced by Mercurius and Lycopodium.

-Even as the fluid balance is being maintained by intravenous infusions remedies like Gelsemium, China, Digitalis help the cardiac output. -Cold, clammy skin representing the onset of low blood pressure can be improved by Viscum album etc.

-Not to forget the fact that at every point of time when a constitutional remedy is a pointer, Homoeopathic remedies can invigorate the vital force under duress and is unable to take care of itself.

- To see that the patient is helped at every stage of inflammation to recovery, Homoeopathic medicine has good remedies which can work in tandem with any antibiotics and prevent the patient from going into shock and rally around to normalcy at the earliest.

Deepu Madduri, MD (Internal Medicine)

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Residency of Internal Medicine at St. Mary's Medical Center/Harbor UCLA

Fellow of Hematology/Oncology at Harbor University of California, Los Angeles.

Phone: 001 405 408 5097 mswathi@gmail.com

Dr.Venugopal Gouri BHMS, MD (Hom.)

Consultant Homeopath Gouri Homeo Healthway, Hyderabad, India.

91 92463 72625 drvenugopal@gmail.com