Mediscene

In his Organon of Medicine published in 1810, Samuel Hahnemann spoke of how war, poverty, over-crowding, diet and weather were main causes of disease. During an epidemic of cholera in 1854, the London Homoeopathic Hospital following Hahnemann's advice had a fatality rate of 16%, while under allopathic treatment the fatality rate was 54%.

Cholera is a water-borne infection and is spread via the faeco-oral route. Faeces and vomitus contaminated with the bacillus usually enters lakes and rivers by way of sewage. Cholera is not common in the first year of life where breast-feeding provides the necessary antibodies, but people of all other ages can be affected.

An individual can suffer many bouts of it in a lifetime. The target organ is the inner wall of the small intestines, where the Vibrio multiplies rapidly during which time they release toxins into the gastrointestinal tract. These toxins have the capacity to increase the permeability of the intestinal walls, so that excessive leakage of water and salts occurs.

The first bout of diarrhoea may consist of faeces but is soon followed by profuse, involuntary, painless and watery stools. Vomiting soon follows. Vomitus and diarrhoea have the characteristic 'rice-water' like appearance. Cramps are severe, painful and frequent but lasting a short time and common in the hands, feet and calves of the legs. Bacillary Dysentery is also spread via the faeco-oral route, contaminated food or flies. Inflammation of the large intestines occurs and diarrhoea may contain blood and mucus. Colic-like abdominal pain, fever and cramps may also be present.

Amoebiasis or Amoebic Dysentery is caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Cysts of this amoeba may be swallowed with unclean water or uncooked food contaminated by human faeces and they multiply in the colon. Amoebiasis is usually a chronic condition and the patient may have pains and two or three large stools a day, over a period of time. Constipation usually alternates with diarrhoea while mucus in the stools with streaks of blood and an offensive odour, are also characteristic symptoms of amoebiasis.

Food Poisoning is spread by bacterial contamination of food and drink. Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni and Staphylococcus aureus are the usual suspects. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal colic and start within a day or sooner.

Signs of dehydration are a dry mouth, wrinkled skin with no elasticity, sunken eyes, and hollow cheeks. If untreated, severe dehydration will result from loss of fluid and electrolytes. This in turn leads to circulatory shock which is recognized by symptoms such as cold clammy skin, tachycardia (rapid pulse or heartbeat at rest), low blood pressure, low body temperature and peripheral cyanosis (bluish discolouration of fingertips, lips due to lack of oxygen).

Acidosis (when blood becomes too acidic) may present together with a reduced output (less than 300ml/day) or retention of urine. This is a sign of impending renal failure. Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar, makes children particularly drowsy and can cause convulsions. Also their rate of dehydration would be much faster as they contain a lesser volume of fluid.