I have a 4 year old girl who has a cough which is turning to a barking type of cough.

About 6 months back, I had given her Phos 200c. Some some improvements, but seems like it has worn off.

Her cough is kinda loose ( chest seems congested) Does not cough all the time. It is worse at night when sleeping. It is also worse when lying down.

Girl is almost 4 years old.

She is dark haired.

She fears dark. Very cuddly, clingy and hugs parents a lot. She wants lot of body contact.
Sleeps with them on the same bed.

She will ask her parents often the following " Do I look pretty?" She will pout if her brother is praised and she is not. She does not like being laughed at. Likes to do all the girlie stuff like barbies, wants nail polish, lotion etc. Likes to wash hands in water.

Very shy with strangers.

She is very sharp and grasps lot of things for her age.

She is a very warm blooded child. Does not like too many covers on her even though the room temp is 65 deg fahr.

Favorite food are creamy, milk based such as yoghurt, cheese, cheese sauces, icecream, cold milk, and so on.

Any suggestions on the remedy and the potency to be given?

The description you have given is classic Pulsatilla - which is a great remedy for childrens coughs worse at night. You may want to try 30c once or twice a day for 2-3 days to see if you get a result.

I assume from your post you know something of homoeopathic prescribing?

David Kempson
Dip Hom Med

Hi David,
Thanks for recommendation. I will try Puls. and get back with you on any changes.

David,
Pulsattilla 30c has been given to her for the last two days. No effect on her at all.
She had a very restless night.
She has been asking for milk & Icecream a lot. Also, she has frequenct BM about 3 times a day, the stool is ball like and very less in quantity.

Repeat Phos 200.

It's indicated, and the same potency is Ok because it seems likely that the earlier dose was antidoted. Avoid chocolate, colas etc

Thanks Anna,

Since her cough is quite acute, would you suggest that I give her Phos 30c few times a day?

THanks !!

nope, a single, once only dose of Phos 200 is my advice.

Namaste,
One dose of Phos 200c was given yesterday. The cough seems to have taken a turn for worse now. She is now coughing all the time, and the cough is sounding more intense, deep and hollow.
Her appettite is dimished.
She is now Not asking for milk or icecream anymore.
She is Very very clingy at night in bed. Almost glued to her mom.
Any suggestions.



[This message has been edited by hp (edited 28 December 2000).]

Okay, sounds like things have been aggravated by the Phos200c. So, let's consider:

When is the cough at its worse? Is there any expectoration at all? What does it look like? Any change in the stool frequency/form since the dose? Any changes at all in food desires? Foods that ameliorate the situation?

Re: the clinginess--is this new and specific to what she does whenever she's ill, or is this something she always does, but is now more pronounced because she's ill? Has there been any change in the core body temperature (that is, does she still feel too warm, and want to kick the covers off, or has that changed--does she feel chillier now?)

Right now, this is what looks like it would work: (but do write back about those questions above)

I'm curious--the phos worked well for her in the past, and one of its acute remedies is arsenicum. Like Puls, Arsenicum also craves fats, cold things like milk, and ice cream. Arsenicum children are also extremely clingy--more from a sense of insecurity about what will happen to them should they lose their strong "support" group than they are from a sense of insecurity about themselves, as a puls would be. You mention above that she does not like to be laughed at, and likes to wash her hands in water; this may indicate a similarity to Arsenicum's concern for others' opinions about them, as well as their need to control things such as their own cleanliness and the order of things around them. You have already mentioned her interest in her appearance and "girly" things, which does tie in with Arsenicum's desire for a neat and tidy appearance. Perhaps this would be a good acute remedy for her. It is certainly a remedy with a very deep cough and restless sleep at night, with great clinginess in children--and generally the entire organism is worsened in its illness at night.

I would suggest Ars 12c--so that it can be repeated. Give the first and wait and watch. You may get an immediate response which ameliorates for a little while, then worsens again. That would be when I would repeat the dose and again look for an amelioration which would lengthen in its duration. It may be necessary to give 3 doses in this way.

What do you think? David?

Divina

I agree that Arsenicum is the most likely now. 12 is a bit low, but if it works, and then symptoms return you can try going up to a 30, and in the same way 200 if needed.

If Ars does nothing, then Nux Vom is second choice.