A Case of Slow Development, Fears, Restlessness

 Homeopath Elka Leibovitch(October 2021)
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The case report presented here is a male child of 6 years’ age, diagnosed clinically as delayed development, especially delayed speech. The child was treated with classical homeopathic therapy by detailed case taking and individualizing the case.
 
The prevalence of developmental delay is yet to be established, but considering the global population, 10% of the children (toddlers and pre-schoolers) are found to have some or the other kind of delay. Under specific domains, the Global developmental delay rate is 1-3% in children falling under school age, cognitive delay rate is 1-1.5%, learning disability rate is 8%, speech and language delay rate is 2-19% and any delay to be 15%.5
 
The treatment strategies adopted are primary care provided by developmental and behavioral pediatricians, occupational therapists, child and adolescent psychiatrists, physical therapists, nutritionists etc. and establishing a therapeutic relationship with the patients.

Main complaints
Fears; grinding teeth at night; rattling in the chest; speech not clear; restlessness
 
Background information
While pregnant, the mother was on thyroid medication, had gestational diabetes, was very stressed.  Induced birth at 38 weeks, because the doctors were worried that the baby will be too big.  He was 2.6kg at birth. The mother was scared and cried a lot before and during labor.
The child had a very hard time nursing and after one week the bottle was introduced. Once on formula, he became constipated and was given laxative. Laxatives were given regularly until the child was 10 months old.
At 2 weeks age he developed severe reflux, which he had until he was 2.5 years old.
The doctors said he had floppy larynx. Had difficulty to swallowing, started to eat solid food at 2.5 years old.
Vaccinated – had mild fever once. Never had a high fever.
The child had Calc carb and Calc phos in the past. He would get a little bit better, but the symptoms would return.
 
Currently
Timid in new places, but otherwise very sociable.
Very sensitive, both emotionally and physically (to pain).
Fear of the dark and being alone. Fear of heights.
Loves cats.
Desires to travel, always wants to go somewhere else.
Speech unclear.
Very active, can’t sit still.  Only sits when watching TV.
Desires yogurt (wants to have it with all his food), mango, banana, sweets, cold milk (mother doesn’t give), chocolates, eggs, chicken.
Always hungry.
Frequent stool.
Tosses in his sleep. Teeth grinding. Uncovers.
Hands warm.
Late teething. At the age of 6 years still has all his baby teeth.
Symptoms
Mental/emotional            Physical                 Generalities
MIND ­ FEAR ­ alone, of being ++
MIND ­ FEAR ­ dark +++
MIND ­ FEAR ­ high places, of +++
MIND ­ SYMPATHETIC ++
MIND ­ TRAVEL ­ desire to +
MIND ­ TIMIDITY +
MIND ­ SENSITIVE, oversensitive +
MIND ­ FEAR ­ dogs, of +
MIND ­ FEAR ­ insects, of ++
MIND ­ RESTLESSNESS, nervousness ­ children, in +++
MIND ­ ANIMALS ­ love for animals ­ cats, of +
TEETH ­ GRINDING ­ sleep, during++++
RESPIRATION ­ RATTLING ++
SLEEP ­ RESTLESS +++
THROAT ­ ENLARGEMENT of tonsils ++
EXTREMITIES ­ PERSPIRATION ­ Hand ­ palm +
MOUTH ­ SPEECH indistinct +
EXTREMITIES ­ PERSPIRATION ­ Foot +
EXTREMITIES ­ RESTLESSNESS +++
FOOD and DRINKS ­ yoghurt ­ desire +++
FOOD and DRINKS ­ chocolate ­ desire +++FOOD and DRINKS ­ eggs ­ desire ­ boiled ++
FOOD and DRINKS ­ chicken desire +FOOD and DRINKS ­ farinaceous food desire +++
 
Prescription
Tub 1M (although at the lower level of health the recommended potency is below 200C, in this case the remedial picture was quite clear, the child was not on any medication and his energy level was good. Therefore, in this case 1M was appropriate)
 
First Follow Up Visit
After taking the remedy, the child straight away complained of abdominal pain. Twice had bowel motion.  Fever 38.6 oC the next day.  Pain remained but didn’t increase. The child was very thirsty. Had a nap during the day (hasn’t slept during the day in years). During the fever the child was perspiring a lot. The next day the fever came down, but the pain remained. By the afternoon he was better.
Second Follow Up Visit
There is a significant improvement in teeth grinding.
More confident. Less fearful to be by himself.
Rattling in the chest has decreased.
Front teeth started to wobble.
The child is a lot more expressive.
He is doing well. Wait and watch.
Third Follow Up visit
Concentrates better at school.
Significantly calmer.
Doesn’t seem to suffer from old fears.
Grew taller.
Chest is better. Began to sneeze.
Losing baby teeth. Stopped grinding his teeth.
The child is doing well. Watch and wait.
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Outcome
The mother didn’t feel that the child required more follow ups.  She described her son as being “free on all levels”. The child is doing well.

CONCLUSION
Through this case report it can be contemplated that homeopathy is efficient therapy in developmental delay. The correct prescription, stimulated the organism in the right direction of cure; because, even though abdominal complaints were not mentioned as the child’s main complaint, when Tuberculinum was given, the remedy immediately addressed that aspect of deteriorated health, that seemed to be central point of the disturbance. 
We need further scientific studies to strongly establish the beneficial effects of classical homeopathic treatment.
 
Reference:https://hpathy.com/clinical-cases/a-case-of-slow-development-fears-restlessness/

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