Monday, 22 September 2008

calpol given to children leads to asthma?


The authors of the study, published in The Lancetmedical journal states use of paracetamol at least once a month – classified as “high use” – increased the symptoms risk 3.23 times.
Taking calpol or Junior paracetamol in the first year of life increased the risk of hay fever and eczema at the age of 6 and 7 by 48 per cent and 35 per cent respectively.They emphasise that the findings do not constitute a reason to stop using paracetamol for relief of pain and fever in children. Instead, they support existing guidelines of the World Health Organisation that paracetamol-based medicines should not be used routinely, but should be reserved for those with a high fever (38.5C or above). Experts point out that in these cases, giving children medication outweighs the risks of not doing so.
Now you may wounder me being an ayurvedic physician showing a keen interest in this study published.It not show -'hey see not only ayurvedic medicines are labelled dangerous modern medicines too have their part' if that is the thing running through your mind ,you have got me wrong .
The point i want to make is we(both ayurvedic physicians and patients ) don't have a good understanding of fever .My father who is also a ayurvedic vaidya never ad viced his patients especially children's not to administer paracetamol for fever unless it is very high ,when i was young i wondered why my father is against the use of a mendicant which gives so much relief from fever that too for kids ,and when i read this article i literally cried what a great man he is (and a good physician definitely) because the research authors are saying exactly the same.
So coming to the treatment of fever treatment in ayurveda it is first treatment explained in ayurveda while listing diseases and it takes almost whole lot of verses than any other disease. It is shame that a treatment explained was almost neglected in current practise ,how patients come with fever to an ayurvedic physician very few .Instead everyone knows popping a paracetamol or two would see the fever running out of them .But wait do you understand what fever is -it is your body telling i need rest or something is wrong with me ,its just an indicator -by taking paracetamol we are just switching off the indicator .
first line of ayurvedic treatment is fasting next is giving digestive medicine and so on ....... and it is time consuming but effectively treats the problem .
The point i want to make is it is our duty to create awareness among general public in every little way we can.

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