Malarious Intermittent Fever

‘Malaria’ means ‘bad air’ or ‘miasma’ and ‘intermittent’ means a fever in which the temperature comes down to normal or below normal in 24 hours.

Cause—The presence, in our blood, of a microscopic parasite is the cause of malaria. It gets entrance into our blood by the bite of the female of a particular, type of mosquito, called the anopheles. Malarial germ is transmitted from an actual sufferer’s blood pari passu. If the bite is a direct one—from the sufferer to the healthy, no infection occurs. Three conditions must therefore be fulfilled for getting an attack of malaria

1. A man actually suffering from malaria must be bitten by a female anopheles mosquito.
2. It must be an anopheles mosquito and only the female of that particular species.
3. About 10 to 12 days after biting the sufferer, the mosquito can transfer the parasite to a healthy man.

Symptoms: Four things characterize a malarious case, —

• Periodicity— the fever comes almost at about the same hour everyday.
• Enlargement of
• Gradually increasing anaemia or paleness of the body.
• Onset with chill or rigor and leaving with drenching

Types

• Quotidian—fever comes once a day.
• Tertian—fever comes every other day.
• Quartan—fever comes once every fourth day.
• Double quotidian in which fever comes twice a day.

Fever may be ‘anticipated’—i.e., come earlier every succeeding day or ‘retarded’ i.e., come later every succeeding day.

Stages of an attack (seen only in the early parts of the illness) —

• Chill Stage: The extremities become cold and a sudden feeling of chilliness is followed by a severe rigor or shivering.
• Heat Stage Then follow a feeling of heat, when patient casts off all clothes.
• Sweat Stage: In this stage, the patient sweats profusely, which is rather exhausting but somewhat refreshing.

Treatment

As a rule, medicines are to be given during apyretic or non-febrile period or defervescence.

Preventive measures against Malaria

• Keep your body well-covered at night and use mosquito curtain,
• Isolate the sick,
• Put wire-gauze to doors and windows to prevent inroads of mosquito.
• To prevent mosquitoes from developing fill up the holes, tanks or diggings in the ground pour kerosene oil over tanks especially over the portions not much frequented; cultivate techoko fish or other fishes in the ponds that eat up the young ones of mosquitoes. Remember that mosquitoes breed in shallow and still waters where it is easy to destroy them.

Chinium Sulph. (Quinine Sulph.) 1x—3x (trit.)— fever three hours during defervescence and when the three stages are well marked.

Quinine should not be given when the stomach is overloaded. Those who are interested in the use of Quinine in homoeopathy, may read with advantage Dr. Hughes’ Practice, pp. 253-56; Kippax’s Lecture on Fevers, pp. 59; Sands Mills’ Practice, pp. 117; Cowperthwaites’ Practice, pp. 636-640; Gatchell’s Pocket Book, pp. 75-77; Dr. Sarkar’s Monthly Homoeo, Review xvii, pp. 522; Homoeopathic Congress Report 1874; Vincent’s U.S.A. Medical Investigator, Vol. II; Clokey’s Journal of Brit. Homoeo Society, pp. 290; Blien’s Journal of Brit. Hom. Vol. VI, pp: 104; Holcombe, Ellis, Douglas, Massery, Poulte, Hempel, Baehr, Roth, Burt, Kafka. etc.

Eupatorium Perf. 3—Nausea and a cold shivering along the back precedes the fever; vomiting (often bilious) precedes fever and lasts till the end of hot stage; and is excited by cold drinks. Severe pain in bones and joints; intense aching all over the body, as if the bones were broken—Very restless, can’t keep still. Motion or pressure does not relieve pain. Yawning and stretching ones self. Useful in Dengue.

Arsenic Alb. 3x, 6, 30, 200—Valuable in pernicious fevers in their chronic stages. In Pernicious intermittent fevers, with little marked hot and cold stages, or one of them is either completely absent or rather prominent; no sweating or profuse and delayed sweating; enlargement of liver and spleen; restlessness, pains and delirium during fever or its decline; much prostration. Arsenic is also of value in quotidian, tertian and quartan fevers; in fevers with double or treble daily accessions; in fevers due to abuse of quinine; in low fever; in fevers with enlarged spleen and dropsy; in fevers that are characterized by commencing with cold extremities, rise of tempeature, burning sensation of body preceding rigor; much thirst, quenched by small sips, but immediately followed by nausea tongue clear; progressive weakness.

Baryta Carb. 6—30—No thirst in any of the stages of fever. Constant coldness; whenever the patient uncovers his hands he feels chilly and thirsty. Very sensitive to cold air and change of temperature. Chill begins at the feet with hairs standing on end. Attacks generally at 8 P.M., afternoon and evening. Debilitating night-sweats; sweat offensive, sweat especially on the left. Tongue thickly white-coated. Adapted to the young and the old.

Capsicum 6—Thirst before rigour (especially in the morning); bilious vomitings during fever; slight sweatings following quickly upon the onset of the hot stage; pain in bones.

Cimex 30—Thirst precedes or accompanies rigor; sweating; headache; fist is closed at the onset of the rigor; at the end of the chill stage much thirst and free urination follow drinking of water. During chill pains in all joints, as if tendons were too short (especially hip-joints).

Arnica Montana 6-30—

• In Intermittent fever with morning exacerbation—Yawing before onset of chill; much weakness. Pain in bones, a sore bruised feeling all through the body as if beaten; frequent turning in bed from a sense of hardness of even a soft bed; heat of the upper part of the body, coldness of the lower; no sweating.
• In simple fever A sense of chilliness inside the body and of heat on the surface; intensifications of chill on drinking cold water or on applying heat to the body.

Ipecac. 3,6,30—Fever due to stomach derangements; nausea or vomiting; tongue coated yellow, yawning and stretching of the limbs before attack of fever; external heat aggravates chilliness; much thirst during the hot stage and none during the cold stage; diarrhea with greenish mucous stools; bitter taste in the mouth. In tertian Malarious fever: before fever has developed, a dose of Ipecac 30 is recommended by Jahr, as capable of aborting an attack. When, however, fever has fully developed, use the medicines indicated by the symptoms.

Ignatia 6, 12, 30—Intermittent fever      Thirst only during the cold stage; chilliness diminished with application of warmth to the body surface; a sensation of chilliness inside the body and of heat outside it, or vice versa: heavy sensation in head during the hot stage; face pinched. In remittent fever: Itching all over; nettle rash; burning sensation in one-half of the face; deficient sweat or sweating of the face; body-heat increases in the afternoon, but no thirst.

Antim. Crude 6—In intermittent fever Pulse is normal; much chilliness, even in warm room; no thirst; cold feet at night; sweating on awaking in the morning tongue coated white; alternate diarrhea and constipation; relish for acid things; patient is frequently inclined to sleep. This medicine is valuable to the old with morning diarrhea, and to young people disposed to grow fat.

Podophyllum 6—Morning rise of temperature with diarrhea; stools changeable in colour and in nature; tongue coated white; loss of appetite; foul breath; pain in the regions of spleen and liver; pain in back before onset of chill; sleep during the sweating stage.

Cina 2x—200—In fever of children due to worms; the fever seldom leaves the child; it picks at its nose and there is flush on the cheeks; there is appetite but no thirst. (Hughes’ Pharmacodynamics, p. 447; Nash’s Typhoid, pp. 89-93).

Elaterium—3-6—Accession of fever in the morning; nettle-rash (relieved by scratching) appears with defervescence.

Rhus Tox. 6—30—Intermittent fever merges into continued fever; fever due to getting wet; restlessness-patient tossing in bed; pain in the loin; diarrhea with or without blood.

Sepia 12—30—Chronic fever; fever once every month; fever in pregnant women; fever without thirst; sensation of chilliness on movement; and sensation of ice-cold surface of body.

Antim. Tart. 3—6—Intermittent fever, if there is no thirst during the cold stage; pain in thighs; cold clammy sweat; rigor or, burning sensation all over; drowsiness during height of fever.

Carbo Veg. 6—30—Useful in intermittent fever; pulse feeble and quick; rigor in the evening; sometimes a sensation of chill in only one side of the body; during the cold stage thirst, burning sensation of the body and sour-smelling debilitating sweat follow each other; headache before the cold stage; pain in the body; extremities and breath feel cold, face flushed, patient needs constant fanning. Useful also in fever due to abuse of quinine or mercury.

Opium 6—30—

• In acute fevers Pulse full but slow, patient sleeps with lips separated and snores loudly; much burning sensation after sweating.
• In intermittent fever: fever comes on with rigor; during the cold stage, patient feels inclined to sleep, and gets twitchings of his body; no thirst during the cold or hot stage; much sweating; coma vigil; useful in the fever of the old people and children.

Cactus 1—Intermittent fever with chill coming on daily at the same time (especially at noon); it is succeeded by burning sensation, quickened respiration and beads of sweat in the cold stage; much thirst; cold feeling in the back; palms icy-cold.

China 3x, 6, 30, 200— (The fever never comes at night), China is useless in the intermittent fever due to abuse of quinine; and China 200 is of doubtful efficacy). Pulse small, quick, irregular; pulse slows down and sleepiness comes on after meal; enlargement and tenderness of liver and spleen; stools liquid, sticky or bilious, thirst immediately before and after the cold and hot stages; palpitation with onset of fever; headache with prominent vesicles on forehead; headache during the cold stage; chilliness all over the body; nausea; want of thirst, burning sensation, patching of mouth and lips during the hot stage; profuse sweat and thirst after the hot stage, no matter, whether during the cold stage thirst and sweat were present or not.

Gelsemiun 1x—6—Pulse feeble, soft and quick; fever is ushered in with cold sensation in the back; pain in the back or all over the body; fever comes every afternoon extremities icy-cold; head is hot and face is flushed; no thirst; patient lies listless in the hot stage.

Baptisia 1, 3, 6—Fever is due to inhaling air or drinking water from dirty tanks. Intense headache; delirium; patient is too early prostrated; thinks his body is broken or cut in to pieces and the parts are scattered about, tries to collect those parts together and tosses about in bed; temperature 104°—107°F.; urine is scanty; stools are slate-coloured. Foul breath & fetid discharge—sweat, urine and stool offensive. Can’t swallow anything but liquid.

Nux Vomica 6,12,30—Useful in fevers coming on in the morning; in fevers coming on in the afternoon, evening or night; the extremities feel benumbed; sensation of heat inside the body and cold outside or vice versa; inspite of the internal hot sensation, patient is loath of uncovering himself; face red and hot; nausea; dizziness; constipation; blueness of nails or extremities; external application of heat does not relieve the chill; rigors; chill increases by cold drinks; sensation of heat before and after the chill; acid-smelling sweating at midnight or in the morning. Nux Vomica is useful in fever that “anticipate”—i.e., comes daily before the hour of the preceding day. Nux Vomica acts best if taken exactly at sundown.

Sulphur 30—Thirst before but none after chilliness; temperature ranges from 103° to 105°F. throughout the day and night; as if the body were being roasted; profuse sweat at night; exhaustion follows fall of temperature; tongue coated or yellowish. It is useful in fever due to use of quinine. Dr. Allen believes that Sulphur is more valuable than quinine in malaria.

Eucalyptus Glob. Ө—Drs. Dewey, Boericke and Anshutz prescribed it in intermittent malaria cases. Its indications are Heat of the body is great; palpitation; purulent phlegm; stomach-troubles; inflammation of kidneys; accumulation of foul gas inside the abdomen; blood poisoning; prostration.

Menyanthes 3—30—Much chilliness; no thirst; lower abdomen, extremities and tip of nose are icy-cold; excessive coldness of legs. Useful in quartian fevers.

Lachesis 6—30—Aggravation of symptoms as soon as patient wakes up from sleep; periodical fever in drunkards or during menopause, garlic like odour in the sweat of arm- pit; blueness of the body during fever; fever due to abuse of quinine.

Calcarea Carb. 3—30—Chronic malarious fever; slight temperature persists even in the so-called pyretic stage; low fever; fever comes on at 11 A.M. or 2 P.M.; thirst present during cold stage but absent during sweating or hot stages. Faeces consist of undigested food; diarrhoea or constipation. Useful to patient with pot-belly or to those susceptible to cold.

Calcarea Arsenicum 6x (trit.)—Intermittent fever; enlargement of liver and spleen (especially in chilliness; difficult breathing; palpitation.)

Alstonia Ө—3x—In anaemia or dysentery associated with malaria.

Chamomilla 6-12—Useful in the fevers of children; fever due to dentition and accompanied with diarrhoea; child is peevish and wants to be carried about; child is restless; one cheek is red, the other pale; tongue coated yellow; frequent and copious urination; fever is ushered in with slight chill; thirst during the hot and sweating stages; sensation of chilliness in some parts and heat in others.

Natrum Muriaticum 30—Fever comes on with much rigor and thirst at 10 or 11 A.M., intense headache from the hot stage onwards; body is emaciated; “fever blisters on the lips”; enlargement and tenderness of liver and spleen; prostration and sweating after defervescence; during the sweating stage all complaints are gradually relieved, except headache. Fever due to abuse of quinine and arsenic.

Pulsatilla 6, 12, 30—Fever due to gastric derangements or biliousness, fever between 1 and 4 P.M.; chill and rigor last long; hot stage is short; no thirst; thirst during hot stages only; sensation of unhealthy dry heat of the body in the evening; burning sensation in palms and soles; sometimes the hot stage appears very soon after or simultaneously with the cold stage; one sided sweat—only on the right or on the left, sweat on the right side of the face. Sleepiness after meals; fever due to abuse of quinine.

Ferrum Met. 6—30—Fever due to abuse of quinine, especially if fever is associated with enlarged spleen, diarrhoea and dropsy; pulse full and hard; frequent chill and rigor temperature is subnormal; body is pale and anaemic; vomit of ingesta; prolonged sweating; increase of symptoms during the sweating stage.

Ferrum Arsenicum 6—Fever and enlarged spleen; anaemia due to abuse of quinine, in intermittent fever stools consist of undigested food; dropsy; urinary troubles.

Ceanothus Ө-1x—Spleen remains enlarged, even after fever is cured; tenderness in liver and spleen.

Malaria Officinalis 3x—1000—Used in chronic malaria and in case due to wrong use of quinine.

Urtica Urens Ө—Boils due to malaria; gout; enlarged liver and spleen; insomnia, Take 10 drops of mother tincture in an ounce of hot water, twice daily; this way keep up the temperature longer or higher but ultimately it cures. If needed, use a dose or two of Natrum Mur. 6x.

Causticum 6—If urination is copious during convalescence, and chill predominates, it is more marked than the other stages; left sided chill; no thirst during hot and sweating stages; sweat smells like urine.

Muriatic Acid 6—Patient is weak and passes foetid stools. Low type of intermittent and malarious fevers. Chilliness awakens him; cold extremities, cold sweat on feet. Heat without thirst.

Apis Mel. 3, 6, 30—Pulse quick and full; pain in the lower abdomen, in the region of the liver and in back; bitter taste in mouth; tongue coated yellow; headache and heavy sensation of the head; now sensation of chilliness, now of heat; bilious vomit; nausea; pain on coughing; chilly sensation in the right-half of the body before evening tide: chilliness more inside rooms than in open spaces; little or no thirst; head feels hot; slight perspiration occasionally; patient sleeps during sweating; skin dry and rough; dropsy; delirium; sudden screams (especially in children); loss of motion and sensation; scanty urination; swollen tongue.

Veratrum Viride 12—30—Pulse full and hard, quick and bounding; temperature high; palpitation; nausea; chilliness; strong convulsion; congestion of brain.

Lycopodium 12—30—Fever comes on at 4 p.m. and leaves at 8 p.m.; much chill and feeling of chilliness all over the body; chill generally begins in the back and extends all over; coldness of hands and feet; constipation; flatulent distention of abdomen; pain in the region of liver; burning sensation.

Cedron 1x, 2x, 2—Congestion of brain; want of sweat, or copious sweating; fever with chill and rigor. Periodicity marked; fever comes on regularly at the same time. Fever contracted in low or marshy soil.

In Double Rise of Fever—Elaterium 3, China 6, Bell. 6, Graph. 6, Stram. 3, Sulphur 30, Antim. Crude 6.

In Anticipating Fever—Antim Tart. 6, Ars. 6, Chin. Sulph. 3x trit., China 6, Ignatia 6, Natrum 30, Nux Vom. 6.

In Morning Fever—Nux Vom. 6, Bryonia 6, Hepar 6, Ferrum 6, Lyco. 30, Gels. 1x, Natrum 30, Podo. 6, Sepia 12, Sulphur 30, Thuja 6.

When Intermittent Fever merges into Remittent Fever—Gamb. 6, Gels. 1x, Podoph. 6, Eupator. Perf. 1x—3.

During Convalescence—In the enlarged spleen; Ceanothus Ө or Merc. Bin. 3x—6x. In liver enlargement; Phos. 6—30. In neuralgia or jaundice Chelidonium 6. In cachexia: Ars. 30—200 or Nat. Mur. 30—200. In anaemia and debility (before dropsy) Ferrum Ars. 6. In green sickness (chlorosis) Puls. 6—200.

In Malarial Cachexia— [This is now looked upon as the sequel not of malaria but of Kala-Azar]. Arsenicum 6— 200: Pale or lemon tint of the body; tongue raw red; abuse of quinine; preliminary stage of phthisis. Calc. Ars. 6x trit.: Urine is abnormal; palpitation; enlargement of liver and spleen (in children). Chininum Ars. 2—3: Continued fever; prostration; neuralgia; breathlessness; icy-cold body. Natrum Mur. 30 Pallor of body; constant chill; enlarged spleen; constipation; headache in the daytime; abuse of quinine. Sulphur 30: Patient steadily gets worse.

In Chronic Fever—Ars., Nux., Puls., Verat Alb., Ignatia, Ipecac, Natrum Mur., Arnica, Capsicum, Acid Phos., Sulphur, Arnica, Cedron, Eupatorium—all in 6—30 potencies.

A change of climate affords best results in many cases.

Diet (in acute fever)—During the cold stage, drink hot water, never drink it cold. During the other stages, can drink hot or cold water as desired. So long as fever is high, it is best to avoid any food but very dilute fluids like barley or sago-gruel. When fever subsides, milk may be given with sago or barley, sweetened if desired. Succulent, juicy fruits like pomegranate, cucumber, grapes, oranges, lemon may be freely given. After 3 days of apyrexia, patient may have soft rice (old) with moong-dal-soup or fish-soup.