EFFECTIVENESS OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC URTICARIA

Abstract

Background: Chronic urticaria is occurrence of wheals more than twice a week for a period of six weeks or longer. It is a vascular reaction of the skin characterised by the appearance of wheals, which are elevated whitish reddish plaques, generally surrounded by a red halo and associated with severe itching, stinging or burning sensations. Generally the lesions increase in frequency after adolescence, with highest incidence in persons in 3rd decade of their lives. Non- sedating anti-H1 antihistamines are the mainstay of treatment; when ineffective higher dosages are tried, though all are associated with a lot of side effects ranging from arrhythmias to osteoporosis when used for a long period. Objectives: The aims and objectives of the present study were to understand the clinical presentation of CU and to assess the effects of constitutional homoeopathic remedies in the treatment of chronic urticaria based on the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS), and to study their effects on the quality of life of the patients before and after treatment, using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Materials and Methods: It was a prospective non-randomised uncontrolled observational study; sample size was 30; case taking of all the patients was done based on standard case taking proforma, consent was taken from each patient,a questionnaire of 22 points was used to elicit significant aspects of the nature of urticaria, all the patients were prescribed medicines depending on individual case; follow-up was done every 30 days from first prescription. At each visit, scoring of clinical symptoms was done with the help of UAS. Prognosis was made by comparing the different scores at each visit. Lastly, quality of life assessment was done before and after treatment using DLQI. Results: According to severity based on the Urticaria Activity Score, before treatment 10% patients were in mild category, 60% patients in moderate category and 30% in severe category. After treatment, 63.33% patients were in mild category and 36.67% in moderate category. The t-value was 10.56(p=0.001) for UAS. Based on DLQI, 6.67% were in large effect group, 63.33% in moderate effect group, 26.67% in small effect group and 3.33% in no effect group. KEYWORDS: Chronic Urticaria, Homoeopathic treatment, Urticaria Activity Score (UAS), Dermatology Life Quality Index(DLQI) Conflict of interest: None