Pediatric Case

[Guest guest]

Hi, the below case is my son. Thankfully we just got out of the

hospital today and he is doing very well. I am looking for

suggestions for supportive remedies to help him regain health and

limit any long term consequences. I would also be interested to hear

thoughts regarding the use of herbs although I'm wondering if it

might be too much because of his age.

 

8 week old male

 

At 5 weeks developed green stool mixed with yellow. At 7 weeks

noticeable blood was in the stool and he spiked a fever of 101.7.

Went to ER and was in hospital for ten days. Initial 48 hours of

antibiotics. Fever remained high for 6 days ranging from 100-102,

highest at night. Diarrhea worsened and was almost pure water for 3

days, urine output decreased and was scanty and dark brown. He also

developed vomiting on day 4-5 along with nasal congestion. Cough

appeared at day 6. Day 6-8 sodium went down and potassum went up. Was

on IV fluids for 9 days. Stopped eating almost completely from days 4-

7 and had feeding tube. Second course of antibiotics was started from

days 6-8.

 

Currently he has left the hospital with no fever in last 72 hours and

the only remaining symptom is diarrhea which is loose and still green

but continuing to become more formed daily. Stool remains positive

for blood although not visible. Mother started soy free dairy free

diet 4 days ago because of suspected milk allergy. Besides the loose

green stool he is acting great, very alert and awake, sleeping well

and feeding normally. He is currently on prescription probiotics. No

known cause has been determmined, all bacterial cultures have so far

come back negative, and negative for rotavirus. The Dr.s best guess

is viral although they are quite unsure and probably will never know.

 

I'd appreciate any feedback regarding herbs or other therapies to be

used now or over the coming months.

 

Thanks,

Jason

[Guest guest]

Hi,jason, to summarize, the issue to address now is diarrhea. Since you

forget to mention the frequency of diarrhea and it does not seem

serious, for herbals, I recommend the following herbs for supportive

remedies.

 

chen pi (tangerine peel)

shen qu (Fujian leaven)

ban xia (pinellia)

huang qin (scutellaria)

shan zha (crataegus)

ge gen (pueraria)

1g each

 

Soaking herbs for 15 min., decoct 5-10min in about a coffee cup of

water, use 2 to 3 teaspoonfuls each time, 3 times a day; cease if

diarrhea stopped and then change the herbs later.

 

SUNG, Yuk-ming, PhD(Chengdu U TCM) BA (Houston) L Ac/CMP (HK)