Abstract
Bordetella pertussis continues to circulate even in countries with good childhood vaccination coverage. Sporadic cases are still observed either due to no vaccination, incomplete vaccination or as a result of failure of vaccination. Though acute in nature it has a longer disease span with multiple life-threatening complications despite adequate management. This study was undertaken to study the effect of Sneha Basti (oil enema) in pertussis in relation to reduction in intensity of cough and complications of the disease when administered along with the conventional pharmacological therapy. Patients with the clinical picture mimicking pertussis were screened, investigated for pertussis and appropriate conventional pharmacological therapy of Erythromycin a preferred antimicrobial agent was started. Concurrently, Sneha Basti was administered to these two children. Both patients showed favourable results in terms of reduction of Kasa (cough) and the disease period with a faster recovery when compared to conventional therapy alone as has been observed routinely. No complications incurred during the complete disease span. It was concluded that if the pharmacological therapy is augmented with the complimentary systems of medicines, it can reduce the prolonged span and intensity of the disease and prevent other complications.
Case Reports
Case 1
An 18-month-old child was admitted with a history of mild to moderate grade fever for 6 days, 15 days prior to the onset of episodic bouts of dry and hacking cough lasting 2-3 min followed by inspiratory whoop, for more than 10 days occasionally associated with vomiting. The immunization schedule was complete with the last dose of DTwP booster at 16 months of age. On physical examination, the child weighed about 08 kg at the time of admission and was afebrile with a pulse rate of 110/min and a respiratory rate of 34/min with no specific chest findings on auscultation. On hemogram, haemoglobin level was 10.9 g/dL, total leucocyte count was 42,800/cmm and a normal platelet count. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was 20 mm at the end of 1 st h. The differential leucocyte count showed polymorphoneucleocytes at 18%, eosinophils at 01%, lymphocytes at 80%, monocytes at 01% and no basophils. The chest radiograph was normal.
Case 2
A 2-month-old child a migrant from the northern part of the country who was admitted with a history of moderate grade fever lasting for 10-12 days associated with dry cough of increasing intensity since 4-5 days. The bouts lasted for about 2-3 min on the 1 st day, but at the time of physical examination it was about 3-4 min. The infant used to gasp for breaths in between the cough spells. Vomiting was occasionally present. The baby had only received a shot of Bacille Calmette Guerin vaccine at birth and was due for DTwP vaccine. On physical examination, he weighed 03.9 kg and was afebrile with a pulse rate of 124/min and a respiratory rate of 44/min. The chest examination on auscultation was evident of mild bronchospasm. There was no refusal to feed, but the baby would vomit if cough appeared during feeding. The baby was ruled out for esophageal atresia and other related congenital anomalies. On hemogram, haemoglobin was 09.8 g/dL, total leucocyte count was 34,000/cmm, which rose to 40,200/cmm on the 5 th day of admission and a normal platelet count. The ESR was 14 mm at the end of 1 st h. The differential leucocyte count showed Polymorphoneucleocytes at 19%, eosinophils at 02%, lymphocytes at 74% (85% on 5 th day), monocytes at 05% and no basophils. The chest radiograph was normal.
In both the cases, pharyngeal swabs were sent for influenza a virus culture along with culture for B. pertussis in view of the hemogram and clinical presentation. Both the samples were negative for influenza, whereas, the sample of case 1 was positive for B. pertussis and that of case 2 was reported negative with no growth of any pathognomonic organism. Though the culture was negative for growth of any pathognomonic organism a diagnosis of pertussis was made upon the clinical presentation and the hematology reports favoring the diagnosis. There are multiple factors affecting in obtaining a positive culture report. [10] Both the patients were started empirically on Erythromycin therapy [11] in a dose of 40 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses as recommended in management of pertussis on the 1 st day of admission though the reports for culture were awaited and the drug was further continued for 14 days.
The team of the doctors working on the patients decided to use the Sneha Basti therapy as has been advised in Charakasamhita. The logic applied was, the symptoms seen in the patient were very much similar to that of Kasa disease and more specifically favouring the diagnosis of Vataja Kasa and not merely as the symptom Kasa. The diagnosis of Vataja Kasa was made because of two major symptoms, presence of dry cough with practically no expectoration or phlegm and a change in voice of the patient that were seen. The third symptom was that the patient is easily exhausted after bouts of cough. Ayurveda has the distinction amongst other health sciences where a few symptoms have an existence as symptoms and sometimes as an entire disease entity. [8] Sneha Basti was administered in a dose 20 mL in the first case and 10 mL in the second case as has been described in the text. Plain Sesame oil was warmed in a water bath and was administered with a sterile syringe through an infant feeding tube in the early afternoon hours, post feeding. The Sneha Basti therapy was started on the 7 th day of anti-microbial therapy and was continued for the next 14 days. Favorable results in terms of reduction in intensity initially and later the frequency of bouts of cough, reduction in incidence of vomiting, reduced sleep disturbances and extended uninterrupted sleep hours were observed during the treatment. The intensity of the bouts of cough was seen to be reduced after a week of administration of Sneha Basti simultaneously with increased uninterrupted sleep hours. The patients were discharged on the 28 th day of admission with a normal feeding advice. Both cases were followed-up weekly thereafter in the out-patient department for another 8 weeks. Both cases were free of any complaints of cough and other associated symptoms between there 6 th and the 7 th week of follow-up and showed no complications whatsoever during the complete observation period of 12 weeks.
Discussion
Pertussis is an acute bacterial infection caused by B. pertussis. Despite high childhood vaccination coverage, it still remains a substantial cause of morbidity. The cough duration is longer in children than in adults with pertussis, the median cough duration is of 112 days against that of 42 days in adults. [12] Vaccination is the most important preventive strategy. However, immunity wanes in later years and older children become susceptible again. Erythromycin, has been the anti-microbial drug of choice for post exposure prophylaxis, administered for 14 days. [11]
The characteristic cough is a sensitive indicator. A diagnosis can be confirmed by culture. The disease should also be considered in young infants who have classical symptoms and have not completed 3 doses of the vaccine as was considered to be a finding and favored the diagnosis in case 2 along with other haematological findings. The lab findings show absolute lymphocytosis and its degree parallels with the severity of the disease. Though culture is the gold standard test for diagnosis, many other factors influence its result.
Complications include pneumothorax, epistaxis, sub-conjunctival haemorrhages, sub-dural haematomas, hernia, rectal prolapse and these mostly result from the effects of pressure generated by severe coughing [11] and thus the management of cough is equally important as that of antimicrobial treatment.
Ayurveda is based on the principles of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, the three basic pillars of the body. Functional normalcy of all the three is considered as physiology and disparity of any single of them is considered to be the cause of a disease. [13],[14],[15] Kasa is one such symptom which comes up due to the disparity of Vata occurring in its main seat, the colons. [16] The restoration of Vata to normalcy cures Kasa and the best place to control and restore its function is at its seat, i.e. the colons. [17] Incidentally, Sneha Basti is one such treatment modality that can be administered from birth itself, [18] acts on Vata[19] and also on the colons. The classics further state that Sneha Basti should be administered in appropriate doses [20] to those with cough that do not respond adequately to oral medications. The oil used can be sesame oil or medicated oil, an antidote of Vata and the Sneha Basti were administered daily. The volume of oil used is very less and thus is expected to stay in the colon for a longer duration, more than 6 h [21] and it is believed to act, not only locally but also systematically by sharing the potency of the medicines. [22] Thus pacification of local Vata restores the functional normalcy of systemic Vata, a causative factor of dry hacking cough, thus relieving cough.
Conclusions
Cough is a major symptom in pertussis and most of the complications of pertussis arise because of cough. Centrally acting cough suppressants such as codeine and dextromethorphan, used to suppress cough have a limited utility. The conventional therapy does not reduce the span of disease making the patient mostly confined to home due to a long recovery period. Furthermore, malnutrition and weight loss is seen in pediatric cases as a result of post-tussive vomiting. Sneha Basti shows an early recovery or a smaller disease span as indicated by reduced frequency and intensity of cough bouts within a very few days of administration and absence of complications during the disease period with a complete recovery within 10-12 weeks, i.e. 70-84 days when compared to a mean 112 days by the conventional pharmacological therapy alone. This itself is an indicator of smaller hospital stay and suffering and is suggestive of a success of the experimental intervention.
The experimental study has its limitations due to the number of subjects available, but might be a milestone in the formulation in the newer treatment modalities integrating the conventional therapies with traditional systems of medicine.
Rahul H Gujarathi1, Vivek M Gokhale2, Jayashree N Tongaonkar3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Kaumarabhritya, B.V.D.U. College of Ayurved, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2 Associate Professor, Department of Dravyaguna, B.V.D.U. College of Ayurved, Pune, Maharashtra, India
3 Professor, Department of Kayachikitsa, S.S. Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Pune, Maharashtra, India
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