Tumour of Gland After Multiple Vaccinations, Calcarea Carbonicum

Tumour of gland after multiple vaccinations, Calcarea Carbonicum

Published in Zeitschrift fuer Klassische Homoeopathie, 2003; 47: 111-120

by Dr med. Carl Rudolf Klinkenberg

Summary

Description of a case of a six months year old child, who developed tumours of the glands in the head and neck area as well as chronic eczema on the cheeks after two bouts of five-fold vaccinations. The process of cure with Thuja and Calcarea Crbonicum is described. The significance of the vaccination rubrics is discussed as well as the cause of vaccinations for the pathogenesis. The article demonstrates the necessity of taking into account the history of vaccinations for children and adults.

Keywords

Calcium Carbonicum, gland tumour, multiple vaccinations, repertorisation, effects of vaccinations, causa, anamnesis, clinical symptom.

Effects of vaccination

Children who come for homoeopathic treatment to my practice often suffer from diseases which started after vaccinations. Most frequently I observe a susceptibility to bronchitis and otitis, allergies, skin eruptions and noticeable behavioural changes. Two years ago I treated a small child with a persistent increase in the size of several of the cervical lymph nodes and the pancreas, which developed immediately after a fivefold vaccination.

Anamnesis

On the 13.06.01 a 6 months old girl is brought to my practice because of a swelling in the lymph nodes and the pancreas. A week after the first five-fold vaccination on the 15.03.01 with Quatro-Virelon® and PedavaxHIB® (Diph-Tet-Pert-Polio and Hib) a slight swelling in the area of the right cheek and below the tongue is noticed. Until then the child had been healthy. On the 9th of April an itching eczema on the cheeks appears, first on theright, then on both sides.

On the 24th of April the second five-fold vaccination follows according to the vaccination plan. Two days later, the child develops a panaritium on both of the big toes, on the right stronger than the left. For a few days she has sub-febrile temperature. On the 27th of April the mother notices another node-like swelling above the right ear. The swellings on the right cheek and under the tongue, which after the first vaccination were still discreet, have in the meantime clearly increased in size. Therefore, the child is first brought as an in-patient to the district hospital and then to the A&E Department of the university clinic. Diagnoses: Lymph adenitis of the upper lymph nodes of the neck, lymph nodes of the parotis and the glandula submandibularis on the right side with impressions of the Kalotte (??) in the area of the os temporale and the displacement and compression of the parotis: Sialadenitis of the glandula sublingulais, more on the right side. Suspicion of an angiomatose tumour with several nodes and rich in blood vessels. DD: Lymphoma, Fibromatosis.

The recommended CIT scan and the subsequent biopsy were rejected by the parents. An infectious cause is excluded on serological grounds. She has not been abroad. The tumours do not grow any further; in May and June they remain clinically and sonographically unchanged.

The appearance and aggravation of the symptoms shortly after the vaccinations suggests that this is an effect of the vaccination. The tight temporal correlation and the lack of any other influence point to it.

Findings

General state is good. So far the development has been normal. Extensive swelling on the right side of the face from cheek to jawbone with clearly distinguishable tumours supra-auricular (3cm in diameter, 1cm raised) and sub-mandibular (3cm x1,5cm). The consistency of the tumours varied from relatively tough to soft; no redness. Since recently the girls likes to lie on the affected right side of the face. Because of the considerable swelling under the tongue one gets the strange impression that she has two tongues which lie on top of each other. As a consequence of the swelling the tongue deviates to the left. The skin eruption on the cheeks is dry, rough, a little weeping and worse on the right side. It appears stronger at 4pm in the afternoon, which increases until 8pm. Rarer between 5pm and 6 pm; in the mornings the eruption is hardly visible. After eating a banana it is immediately worse. The child scratches sometimes at night, after putting cream on the skin or after washing. After bathing and washing the skin looks very dry and red which continues for about an hour. The eruption gets slightly worse when sweating.

Further symptoms, even before the vaccination, are: Slightly yellow milk crust. Sweats easily on hairy scalp and neck, especially on the back of the head; especially when drinking she sweats profusely. She is not being breast-fed anymore. The panaritia have disappeared due to external treatment.

Family history:Grandmother – breast cancer, in the past chronic eruption on cheeks; great-grandfather – cancer of liver.

The girl is lively, happy and rarely cries.

Evaluation of symptoms

The chief complaints are the tumours of the glands and the eczema on the cheeks. Associated complaints are the sweat on the head and the milk crust. These complaints correspond to many remedies. I include in the repetorisation:

• Tissue and location: Lymph gland and pancreas; glands of the neck, lower jaw, ear and sub-lingual gland, cheeks.
• Modalities: <afternoon; <water and washing; (<when sweating).
• Sides: <right side (tumours, eczema, panaritia).
• Eczema, itching
• Perspiration on head, occiput.

Perspiration of head and milk crust were already present before the vaccination. The question is whether these symptoms belong to the current disease. The typical eczema on the cheeks, and the persistent tumours of the glands over the last weeks indicate the chronic nature of the disease, which was already present as an inherent disturbance before the disease. I therefore include the perspiration of the head, although I attach greater significance for the choice of the remedy to the symptoms which have appeared last.

The milk-crust, a frequent initial manifestation in chronic eczema, is uncharacteristic when it comes to colour and intensity.

The aggravation from water is frequent in cases of chronic eczema, and since it is a clear modality I use it here for an indication of the remedy.

Vaccination rubrics

It is important to know that the rubric ‘Generalities, vaccination, after’[1] in Kent’s repertory refers exclusively to the smallpox vaccination, which should be expanded in the repertories.[2] The smallpox vaccination has been abolished in the meantime.

Regarding the present vaccinations we are possibly confronted with a different problem. They are frequently a mixture of four to six different vaccination substances, which are repeated several times. Therefore it is not possible to repertorise a cause after a multiple vaccination. Furthermore, the smallpox vaccination rubric is a clinical rubric and should therefore not be used as an elimination rubric.

Still, it has proved worthwhile to include this rubric in cases of vaccination effects in the repertorisation, without excluding remedies which are not in this rubric.[3]

Repertorisation

For the repertorisation I use primarily the Therapeutic Pocket Book by Boenninghausen (TPB), because the locations, the affinities with particular sides and the modalities, which are all highly relevant in the presented case, are particularly reliable in the TPB.[4]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Rhus. / Bell / Calc. / Merc. / Sil. / Staph. / Nit-ac / Con. / Phos. / Sep. / Lyc. / Puls. / Sulf. / Bry. / Cham. / Am-c. / Nux-v. / Kali-C. / Thuj.
Rubrics TPB / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 8 / 7 / 7 / 7 / 8 / 7 / 8 / 8 / 7 / 7
Grades TPB / 28 / 27 / 24 / 23 / 23 / 23 / 22 / 21 / 20 / 20 / 20 / 19 / 19 / 18 / 17 / 16 / 16 / 16 / 16
Polarities TPB / 5 / 5 / 6 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 5 / 1 / 6 / 2 / 6 / 0 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 0
Glands, swelling (tumour) TPB 1191 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 2 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 3
Ext. cervical and sub-mandibular glands,
resp. lymph nodes / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 2
Ears, glands of ears TPB 158 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 4 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 1
Face, right TPB 226 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 2 / 2
Face, eruption, cheeks TPB 231 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 4 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1
Skin, eruption, itching 1377 / 4 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 4 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 3
< afternoon TPB 1965 / 1 / 4 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 4 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 3 / 1 / 4
< water and washing TPB 2435 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 1 / 2
- face, left** TPB 227 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 2
- .Water and washing** TPB 2628 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 2
Partial sweat, head BB1080 [4] / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 2 / 2 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2
Partial sweat, head, on occiput BB1080 / 4 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 4 / 2
Mouth, glands, salivary BB 441 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 1
Mouth, tongue, swelled under the tongue
(ranula) BB468 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 3
Skin, gen. < getting wet, washing
JHR 51 [15] / 3 / 2 / 4 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 1 / 4 / 4 / 1 / 2 / 4 / 1
< smallpox vaccination, ailments from
SRII 672 [1] / 1 / 2 / 4 / 2 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 1 / 1 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4

* addition according to Boenninghausen KMS. 317 **Polar opposite rubric, which is not counted. Abbr.: < = aggravation, > = amelioration according to circumstances

Choice of remedy

Remedies, which are either not characteristic in the sphere of action of tumours of glands and itching eruption or in important modalities like Merc., Staph., Nit-ac., Phos., Lyc., Puls., etc. are eliminated.

The chronic nature of the disease has to be taken into account when choosing the remedy.Rhus.-t. and Bell. have produced similar states of disease. But what is by now a chronic skin eruption on the cheeks and non-inflammatory tumours of the glands are an expression of a chronic disturbance, which can probably not be cured with remedies like Rhus.-t. and Bell.[5]

Short-listed are the remedies of long duration Sil. and especially Calc., which is a good treatment option considering the totality of symptoms.Remarkable is the high grade of Thuja in the rubric < afternoon. This modality and the fact that Thuja has often cured tumours, and especially those which have developed after the earlier smallpox vaccination, leads me to pay attention to this remedy, which is also underrepresented in the TPB.[6]

In many cases I tend to give remedies right from the beginning of treatment which are capable of removing possible obstacles of cure like ailments from vaccination, instead of waiting that a well chosen remedy does not work at all or only unsatisfactorily.[7]

I start the treatment with Thuja.

Materia Medica

• Aggravation of many complaints in the afternoon and at night, at about 3am, or in the evening, preventing sleep (JSK 690) [17]; Hahnemann reference not clear [13].
• Tumour of glands on the left side of the cheek (Hahnemann reference) Pain in the swollen cervical glands … (Hahnemann refernce) Tumour in sub-mandibular glands (JHA 382) [16]. Cervical glands swollen (GS X 326) [14].
• The salivary glands are very swollen; much salivation. Increased salivation … with swelling of salivary glands (ÖHZ) [23] (Hahnemann reference)
• Lichen planus, which extends over the whole face (ÖHZ). On the cheek, close to the angle of mouth, a crusty, itching eruption (Hahnemann reference)
• Cold damp aggravates … All eruptions burn intensely after washing in cold water.
• Early morning, when walking outside, profuse sweat, mostly on head [24, 26].

Reaction

Most of the appointments are on the phone, since the family comes from further away.

14.06.01Thuja 30C (Gudjons), one glob. in the evening under the tongue.

18.06.01 On the day after taking the remedy very titred; temperatures between 37 and 37.6. The eruption looks better, does not weep anymore and does not aggravate anymore during the day.

20.06. Swelling under the tongue has reduced slightly (ca. 20%). Irritable.

25.06.01 Repeatedly sub-febrile temperatures. Perspiration of head less.

10.07. Tumour of gland in front of the right ear smaller. In the morning the child scratches the eruption on the cheek until it bleeds. Again more perspiration on head.

Thuja 200C (Spagyros) 2 glob. in 3 dessert spoons of water, one half in afternoon, one in evening.

24.07. After the dose again higher sub-febrile temperatures. Swelling under the tongue about 40% smaller, and only visible if child is turned on its side. Nodes on the angle of jaw has reduced slightly. Eruptions clearly better; the skin flakes. Once after eating chicken eruption more red with strong itching. Perspiration of head in the first week after taking the remedy clearly less, but now again more.

31.07. Tumour above the ear smaller. Time and again changing temperatures up to 37.6. Skin eruption about 12pm worse with redness and itching. Wakes up frequently at night and scratches on the cheeks. In the last days lots of perspiration on head.

9.08. For the last week no change. Tumour above the ear 30% smaller. Eruption again worse.

Thuja has produced the following effects: Swelling of the sub-lingual gland has reduced by about 40%, the lymph node swelling by about 30%. The eruption got worse again after initial amelioration, the same with the perspiration of the head. Instead of in the afternoon the skin eruption is now worse at lunchtime.New is also that the child scratched the eruption until it bleeds.

In the treatment of tumours I have made the experience that it is advantageous to change to similar remedies instead of staying with the same remedy for too long. This is also applicable when the case progresses, and especially when the symptoms change.

Repertorisation

Skin, itching, scratching until it bleeds: a.o. Calc. (2), Lyc. (2), Merc. (4), Sulf. (4). < 12 noon (BB 1103 and SK 18 [5]): a.o. Sep. (2), Sil. (4), Sulf. (4).

I give Calcium Carbonicum.

Materia Medica

• Eruption on the hairy scalp, with swelling of the cervical glands. (CD, vol 1, p.453, sx 228). [11]
• Glandular swelling on the lower jaw. Hard swelling of a submaxillary gland (CD, vol. 1, p.458, sx 445, 446). Tumours of glands, also indurated, … with or without pains (JSK 198, 212).
• Froeschlein-Geschwulst under the tongue. Swelling of sublingual glands (GS III 172).
• Itching and eruption in face (CD-reference?) Itching pimples on both cheeks, on the zygoma, for several weeks (CD, vol. 1, p.458, sx 421). Scrophulous eruptions. Weeping, crusty …lichen (JSK 198). Weeping crusts on cheeks …; milk crust? (JSK 204).
• After working and washing in water, the ailments are aggravated and renewed (CD, vol. 1, p.487, sx 1411).
• Perspiration on the head in the evening (CD-reference). Profuse perspiration, mainly on occiput and on neck (evening) [21].[8]

Reaction

9.08. Calcium Carbonicum 30C (Gudjons), one glob. evening under the tongue.

6.09. Tumours above and in front of the ear have reduced further. Swelling under the tongue has reduced further. The reduction started after a dose of Calcium Carbonicum, and stagnated after three weeks. Perspiration of head less. The eczema on the cheeks was at first nearly cured, but since two weeks it is again worse; since then restless sleep with frequent awaking.

Calcium Carbonicum 30C (Gudjons) 2 glob. in 3 dessert spoons of water, one half at lunchtime the other one in the evening.

26.09. After this dose renewed regression of tumours; nodes above the ear hardly visible anymore and much softer. Also the tumour towards the jaw has clearly reduced and is softer. The swelling under the tongue is till the most conspicuous aspect, which only reduced a little over three weeks. Teething. Whining. Sleep better. The eruption became gradually better and is hardly visible now. Only occasionally perspiration of head. No temperatures.

9.10. For the last ten days stagnation. Swelling under the tongue again bigger. Eruption over the last five days more.

Calcium Carbonicum 1M (Gudjons), one glob.

12.10. On the morning of taking the remedy a bit of temperature; during the course of the day an intense stopped-up coryza develops with yellow discharge. At night obstructed nose, in open air fluent coryza. Tired and clinging. 38.5 fever. This morning purulent discharge in inner canthi. Now the mother tells that the child has suffered from a cold for the last three days. That means that Calcium Carbonicum was given into an initial acute diseases, which then developed further.

Pulsatilla 30C (Spagyros). The acute symptoms disappear quickly.

26.10. 39, 2 fever, whining, but clingy, and wants to be carried the whole time. Head hot, hands cool, a slight cough, a slight coryza, profuse salivation, frequently puts fingers in mouth.

Chamomilla 30C (Spagyros). Aggravation of the acute symptoms. Belladonna 6X (DHU), because no other potency is available.

29.10. Attack of croup: Mother calls the doctor on emergency call, who prescribes antibiotics.

6.11. Tooth is out. Tumours around the ear unchanged. Swelling under the tongue again bigger. Skin on the cheeks looks better; the eruption improves in open air. Perspiration on head even less than before, esp. on neck. Hardly any milk crusts.

I give Sulfur 30C (Spagyros) as an intermediate remedy, in order to heighten the effectiveness of Calcarea Carbonicum and as a reaction remedy after treatment with antibiotics.

16.11. Calcium Carbonicum 1M (Gujons), one dose.

14.12. The tumour in front of the ear has disappeared. Above the ear one can still feel a slight elevation[9], according to the mother The swelling under the tongue is much smaller. The eruption has nearly completely disappeared over the last four weeks; remarkable is still the dry skin on the cheeks. No perspiration on the head anymore. The milkcrust is gone. Obstinate.

17.12. Slight feverish infection with discreet and disseminated skin eruption. Good general state: No treatment.

28.12. Acute cold and cough: Pulsatilla 30C.

The mother calls again on the

25.04.02 The swelling under the tongue is still slightly visible. The sub-mandibular tumours and the ones around the ear have disappeared; above the ear there is still a small palpable elevation. I advice a further dose of the remedy, but the mother does not think the child has to be treated anymore.

6.05.03 I call the mother just to check how the child does: The tumours have disappeared over the ear, apart from an elevation which is hardly palpable. The swelling under the tongue, the eruption on the cheeks and the perspiration on the head are gone.

Causality and coincidence

As has become clear from the presented case, often vaccinations do not trigger diseases in the sense of a cause, but can aggravate already existing predispositions for diseases. Before the vaccinations the girl had symptoms, which were insignificant and did not lead the parents to go to a doctor.Calc. Carb., which cured the consequences of the vaccinations, is also that remedy which would have been indicated as the chronic remedy before the vaccinations.

Unfortunately, bad effects from vaccinations are rarely reported. Also in the presented case a connection between the disease and the vaccinations was rejected by the treating paediatrician.