Pediatric Encephalitis and Facial Paralysis

Dr. Chan treats a number of children for neurological conditions. A number of the children, maybe three cases, are sequela to encephalitis. One mother asked me about the treatment in the USA, I had no idea, so I needed to look it up. Apparently the USA has very little encephalitis cases, but in Southeast Asia, particularly China, encephalitis is a problem. These children most likely had Japanese Encephalitis, mosquito born viral infection, that is a significant medical issue facing China.

They come daily for treatment. Dr Chan is nice and caring, but he is not afraid of stimulating needles in baby's, who cry cry cry. Generally the treatment begins with quick body needling of PC 6, PC 8, Sp 6, and Nao qing. Sometimes back shu points of shen shu, pi shu, gan shu, ge shu are added, as well as ST 36. The he retains the needles in DU 20, 22, 24, and two vertex side lines, 1 cun lateral to center line. 3 needles each side, 3 needles for intelligence at DU 17 and lateral to it on each side, yin tang, and tai yang. After needling the baby's calm down, but they surely do scream during the needling. One cute girl is happy until she sees Dr. Chan approach and then a little frown comes out.

Two interesting cases of pediatric facial paralysis. One girl has a drooping right eyelid for 2 months. The eyelid was about 3/4 closed all the time. She is 8 years old, diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a progressive degenerative muscular disease and I suspect she will have to have consistent treatment for a long time. She's doesn't like the acupuncture and cries alot, but her mother brings her everyday for a week, and already she shows improvement. She can open her eye about 3/4ths of the way open. The needles on the face should be inserted in the direction of the disease and or the direction you want to qi to go, ie. lifting the qi. Needles above the eye at UB 2, GB 14, and an Ashi above the eyebrow angled down towards the eye. Under the eye, ST 2, SI 18 angle up towards the muscle to lift the qi. Tai yang, yin tang. Needle LI 4, Gb 20, Du 20. Moxa at Du 20 and Ren 4.

Another remarkable case is a young boy, 4 years old, who fell from a 4th story window. Luckily, the only resulting injury was facial paralysis of the left side around the eye and mouth. He has also been coming for one week daily with his mother and father, who read him stories to keep him occupied. He also cries and hates acupuncture, and is also getting much better. The eye droop is almost entirely gone, but his mouth still is off centered. Local needles around the mouth to towards the mouth such as Ren 24, St 4, and ashi points, and others lifting to the nose such as LI 20, Du 26 and ashi points. LI 4, and GB 20.