Liv.52 in infective Hepatitis
Bhandari, N.R., M.D., D.C.H., Professor and Head of the Dept. of Paediatrics, and (Miss) Shashi Gupta, M.B.,B.S., D.C.H., Department of Paediatrics, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, India.
Infective hepatitis is one of the important causes of jaundice in children in this country. It is endemic in the city of Bhopal. There is no specific therapy yet available for this viral disease. Corticosteroids have a place in the treatment of infective hepatitis, specially in cases having deep jaundice, marked hepatomegaly and impending coma. It was considered desirable to ascertain the effect of Liv.52 an indigenous drug on infective hepatitis as published reports have shown some beneficial effects.
Composition of Liv.52 drops:
Capparis spinosa (Kabra)
Cichorium intybus (Kasni)
Solanum nigrum (Makoi)
Cassia occidentalis (Kasondi)
Achillea millefolium (Gandana)
Tamarix gallica (Jhau)
Terminalia arjuna (Arjun)
Prepared in the juices and decoctions of various hepatic stimulants.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Forty eight cases of infective hepatitis admitted to the Department of Paediatrics, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal, were taken up for study. Of these 16 served as controls; 32 cases were given Liv.52.
A detailed history of each case was taken. After a thorough physical examination; urine examination and specific liver function tests (including serum bilirubin, Van den Bergh reaction, thymol turbidity and serum alkaline phosphatase) were carried out. Urine examination and liver function tests were repeated in every case.
Liv.52 drops were given in the following schedule for a period of 4 to 6 weeks and detailed clinical assessment was recorded regularly:
Dosage Schedule
Infants:
10 drops thrice a day
Children:
2.5 cc thrice a day — 2 to 5 years
5.0 cc thrice a day — over 5 years
OBSERVATIONS
The following observations were recorded.
Table I: Showing age and sex incidence |
|||||||||||||||||
Age group |
Liv.52 group |
Control group |
|||||||||||||||
No. of cases |
Sex |
No. of cases |
Sex |
||||||||||||||
M. |
F. |
M. |
F. |
||||||||||||||
Below 1 year |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||||||
1 – 3 years |
6 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|||||||||||
3 – 6 years |
13 |
10 |
3 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|||||||||||
6 – 9 years |
5 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|||||||||||
9–12 years |
7 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|||||||||||
Total |
32 |
22 |
10 |
16 |
10 |
6 |
|||||||||||
Table II: Showing symptomatology |
|||||||||||
Symptoms |
Control group |
Liv.52 group |
|||||||||
No. of cases |
Percentage of cases |
||||||||||
Fever |
14 |
30 |
93.75 |
||||||||
Jaundice |
16 |
29* |
90.62 |
||||||||
Anorexia |
12 |
27 |
84.37 |
||||||||
Nausea/Vomiting |
10 |
24 |
75.00 |
||||||||
Abdominal pain |
8 |
22 |
68.75 |
||||||||
Constipation |
5 |
16 |
50.00 |
||||||||
Irritability/Headache |
4 |
8 |
25.00 |
||||||||
Abdominal distension |
3 |
6 |
18.75 |
||||||||
Diarrhoea |
1 |
3 |
9.37 |
||||||||
Pruritus |
1 |
2 |
6.25 |
||||||||
Epistaxis |
– |
||||||||||