Information on popular complementary and alternative medical topics

Occasionally, a single, generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) or generalized absence (petit mal) seizure may be prolonged (lasting more than 30 minutes) or the seizures may follow each other in rapid succession without full recovery between each one. When this happens, it is called status epilepticus. There are a number of different types of status epilepticus, the most common are:

convulsive status — prolonged tonic-clonic seizure

non-convulsive status — repeated myoclonic seizures

(non-convulsive means that — prolonged absence seizure

there are no jerks or abnormal — prolonged complex partial seizure

movements)

epilepsia partialis continua — continuous twitching of

one arm/leg

(this is rare) or one side of the face, or both.

The EEG is not usually helpful in convulsive status, but may be extremely valuable in

non-convulsive status. In this type of status, the diagnosis of epilepsy may not be immediately obvious. The patients may just appear confused or bewildered, with some inappropriate behaviour. An EEG recorded at this time will confirm the diagnosis.

Convulsive status epilepticus is a medical emergency which requires prompt treatment. When a convulsion is prolonged, or a patient does not recover fully between seizures there is a danger that a lack of an adequate oxygen supply to the brain may cause brain damage. There is also the risk of vomiting with aspiration of the vomit into the lungs. Although rare, patients may die in status epilepticus.

The longer the patient has been in status epilepticus, the harder it is to stop it.

Treatment consists of giving a fast-acting anti-epileptic drug as quickly as possible. This is usually given into a vein, or if this is difficult (which may be the case in young children), into the rectum. The most commonly used drug is diazepam (also called Valium, Diazemuls, or in a rectal tube preparation, Stesolid). Stesolid may be given by parents at home. This is useful as it means that treatment can be given early and before waiting for a doctor to arrive, or for the child to be taken to hospital. Other drugs that are sometimes used include lorazepam (Ativan), chlormethiazole (Heminevrin), and paraldehyde. This drug is usually given via the rectum but may, rarely be administered as an intramuscular injection into the buttocks. Paraldehyde is a very effective anticonvulsant but its main disadvantage is its unpleasant smell.

If the first dose of either diazepam, lorazepam, or paraldehyde does not terminate the status, then a second dose may be given. If this is not successful then the patient must be treated more urgently, and admitted to the intensive care unit. This is because the suppression of the seizure may require such considerable amounts of drugs that normal breathing may also be suppressed. In this situation, patients may require ventilator-assisted respiration, and intensive nursing. The longer-acting drugs which are most commonly used include phenytoin and phenobarbitone. They are usually given by a ‘drip’ intravenously to ensure that they work quickly. As the seizure comes under control, drugs can be given again by mouth.

Once the patient has recovered and is stable, any factors which may have caused the status epilepticus must be identified to try and prevent a recurrence. In many situations, this will involve a review of the usual oral anti-epileptic medication, and ensuring that patients take their medication regularly.

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The sciatic nerves radiate down the buttocks and legs. Strains, sprains, pinched nerves and arthritis can send awful pains shooting along these nerves or even persist to a paralysing degree. The slightest movement can sometimes generate feelings like a knife has been plunged into the area.

Back pains are the second leading cause of doctor visits for adults over 45 years of age. If they’re caused by arthritis or chronic inflammation in the back or spine, CMO is very likely to help.

As we have discussed in great detail in earlier parts of this book, CMO will almost always correct the problems that cause neck, back, leg, knee, and foot pains. That also holds true for ankylosing spondylitis and the chronic inflammation caused by injured or dislocated spinal disks. In some cases, though, surgery may be necessary to correct some structural defects or injuries.

But surgery isn’t always the answer — at least not all by itself. One retired man was still suffering miserably despite seven back surgeries, including the insertion of a steel plate in his neck, before he found out about CMO. He also had numbness and large arthritic knobs on several of his fingers. His doctor told him they were caused by bone spurs and suggested injecting them with steroids or removing them surgically.

His back pains were so terrible he was getting nerve block injections just about every month to help control the pain. X-rays and scans revealed the existence of a large number of bone spurs. The doctors were now recommending even more surgery.

One bottle of CMO capsules reduced his pain and he has found no need for more nerve block injections. He finds that aspirin is now enough. He plans to take another set of CMO capsules to try for even better results. The knobs on his fingers are disappearing, and a throbbing in his hands that used to keep him up all night is gone completely. He no longer feels any need for surgery.

There have been thousands of similar cases, some worse, some less severe, and just about all have achieved complete or nearly complete recovery. It would take several volumes just to include a representative sample. Suffice it to say that virtually all chronic neck, back, leg, knee, and foot pain problems can be helped with CMO.

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Signs and symptoms

The diagnosis of poisoning depends primarily upon knowing what the child has eaten or drunk. Otherwise, the diagnosis relies on suspicion, a careful physical examination for telltale clues, and laboratory tests. Usually, the telltale signs of aspirin overdose are rapid breathing, ringing in the ears, nausea, over-excitement, and unconsciousness. Poisoning from acids and alkalis causes burns on the lips, mouth, and tongue. An overdose of an iron tonic produces abdominal pain and severe vomiting, often with blood in the vomited material, followed by collapse.

Home care

Two steps are vital. First, try to determine quickly what the substance is that your child has taken, how much of the substance your child has taken, and when the incident happened. Second, call your doctor or local poison control center for instructions. Read the label of the drug or other preparation over the phone. You will be told whether or not to induce vomiting.

If your child has not vomited, if the poison was neither a strong acid nor an alkali, and if your child is conscious, induce vomiting by giving two to three teaspoonful of syrup of ipecac followed by a half to a full glass of water. Do not give milk. If the child does not vomit within 20 to 30 minutes, repeat the syrup of ipecac liquid dose. It is not safe to induce vomiting after the child has swallowed volatile hydrocarbons (petrol, turpentine, and so on).

In general, if your child has taken a normally edible substance (medications, for example), induce vomiting. If your child has taken a substance that is not normally edible (petrol or furniture polish, for instance), do not induce vomiting. If your child is not fully conscious, do not induce vomiting.

Precautions

• The most important precaution is prevention: see that all poisonous substances are stored out of reach of children – under lock and key if necessary.

• Keep the telephone numbers of police and fire departments, your doctor, and the local poison control center near the telephone.

• Always have syrup of ipecac in the house.

• Do not transfer any poisonous substance to an ordinary glass or bottle and do not keep any medication in an unlabeled container.

• Insist upon childproof tops on all medicines, not just those intended for children.

• Make sure that the bottles containing turpentine and kerosene have safety tops.

• Be careful with iron tablets. They taste sweet, look like candy, and can be deadly.

• When visiting other people’s homes, do not let your children explore until you are sure there are no poisons within reach.

• When guests visit you, be certain their medications are out of reach of any children.

Medical treatment

Your doctor may induce vomiting with syrup of ipecac or wash out the stomach by means of a tube. Further treatment varies with the substance taken and your child’s condition.

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