小儿急惊者,本因热生于心,身热面赤,引饮,口中气热,大小便黄赤,剧则搐也。
盖热甚则生风,风属
肝,此阳盛阴虚也。以利惊丸主之,除其痰热,不可与巴豆及温药,大下之,恐搐止虚热不消
也。热痰客于心胃,或因闻大声非当则动而惊矣,搐过后则又如故,此无阴也。若热极,虽不
因闻声及惊,亦自发搐。
急惊证上窜,反张搐搦,口流痰涎,壮热并有之,其或有亲左视右者,有僵,(僵,仰也,属阳。)有仆,(仆,覆也,
属阴。)拳握指有里有外。医分男女,定阴阳顺逆之理。有左右引搐连及脚手,身体颤动,初则
搐搦俱作,久而搐住只搦,有急有缓,但只肩动。又螈 ,螈 者,候之轻也,搐则盛也,
搦又重也,反张牙关紧急,喉中有涎,即是惊风候。如牙关不紧,口无痰涎,只反张搐搦上窜
者,未可便作惊风。盖夹惊夹食,伤寒豆疹或三焦蕴热,五脏不宣,流入经络,热在筋脉,亦
作搐溺。钱氏搐搦有真假急惊,量其分数,约热之轻重而利之。
洁古云∶急惊,阳证也,俱腑受病耳。小儿热痰客于心肺,是以少阳相火旺。经云∶热
极生风。因闻火声而作,盖谓东方震卦得火气而发搐。火本不动,得风而动,当用利惊丸、
导赤散、泻青丸、地黄丸主之,搐止服安神丸。
小儿欲发惊风候,神先不定,顾左复右,观上反下,或已定其精,凝其神,恍恍惚惚,
怕物惧人,不若常日嬉戏者,当急疗之。如有热,先退热,有惊散惊。热退不生痰,惊散不
作风,良久自然安定。
急惊欲下之理,一时发作上窜,斜视反张,速宜下之。若传过或已搐定,少缓之间,
未可便下,有所得失。急惊候至为要紧,急在片时之间,若或差殊,间有得失,所见端的
无疑,急须投药,稍有疑惑,少缓片时,不
可救矣。
急惊证治难易
急惊证鼻中出血者易,大小二便顺利者易治。急惊风未投药,四证俱全,已服药四肢垂 者
难治,喷药及药不下者难治,急惊搐搦之后四体软者难治,搐后目睛翻转者难治。惊搐已住,
神精缓慢,手寻娘衣或寻自身体者,亦不可治。惊搐证住,但神昏气促者不治。惊证口中血
出难治,惊证二便自遗者难治。
Pediatric acute convulsion syndrome (Ji Jing Feng) fundamentally arises from heat generating in the Heart, manifesting as fever, flushed face, thirst, hot breath, yellow and dark urine and stool; in severe cases, convulsions occur.
Since excessive heat generates wind, and wind is associated with the Liver, this represents an excess of Yang and deficiency of Yin. The primary treatment is Lijing Wan (Detoxifying Convulsion Pill) to eliminate phlegm-heat. One must not use Crotonis Fructus (Badou, 巴豆) or warm medicines for drastic purgation, lest the convulsions cease but the deficient heat remains unresolved.
If hot-phlegm lodges in the Heart and Stomach, or if the child is startled by loud, inappropriate noises causing fright, convulsions will ensue, returning to normal after the episode; this indicates a lack of Yin. If heat is extreme, spontaneous convulsions may occur even without auditory stimuli or fright.
The manifestations of acute convulsion include upward rolling of the eyes, opisthotonos, limb spasms, salivation, and high fever. Some children exhibit erratic gaze, some have stiff bodies (Stiffness refers to rigid extension, belonging to Yang), some collapse (Collapse refers to falling forward, belonging to Yin), and clenched fists may be directed inward or outward. Physicians must differentiate based on gender and determine the principles of Yin-Yang auspiciousness and inauspiciousness. Symptoms may involve traction-like convulsions affecting hands and feet with body tremors; initially, both convulsions and spasms occur, but later only spasms remain. These can be rapid or slow, sometimes limited to shoulder movement. There is also "chong chu" (twitching), which indicates a mild condition; "chu" (convulsion) indicates severity; "nuo" (finger clenching/spasm) indicates greater severity. If opisthotonos, locked jaw, and phlegm rattle in the throat are present, it is diagnosed as a convulsion syndrome. If the jaw is not locked, there is no salivation, and only opisthotonos and convulsions occur, it cannot be immediately classified as convulsion syndrome. This is because conditions involving mixed fright and food stagnation, cold-heat disorders, smallpox/rubella, or heat accumulation in the Triple Burner, with dysfunction of the Five Zang organs allowing heat to flow into collaterals and affect sinews, can also cause convulsions and urinary/fecal issues. Qian Yi distinguished between true and false acute convulsions, advising to assess the degree of heat and apply purgative methods accordingly.
A floating, rapid, full, or tight pulse indicates acute convulsion. A blue-purple pattern in the Tiger's Mouth vein suggests either convulsion or accumulation, but primarily points to acute convulsion.
Li Gao (Jiegu) stated: Acute convulsion is a Yang syndrome, involving the Fu organs. Hot-phlegm lodges in the Heart and Lung, causing hyperactivity of Shaoyang Ministerial Fire. The Classics state: Extreme heat generates wind. Onset triggered by fire sounds implies that the East (Zhen Trigram) reacting to fire energy causes convulsions. Fire is inherently still but moves when acted upon by wind. Treatment should utilize Lijing Wan, Daochi San, Xieqing Wan, and Dihuang Wan; Anshen Wan should be taken after convulsions cease.
Before the onset of pediatric convulsion, the spirit becomes unsettled first: looking left then right, up then down. Even if the essence seems settled, the demeanor is vague and hesitant, fearing objects and people, unlike usual playfulness. Immediate treatment is required. If there is heat, clear it first; if there is fright, disperse it first. Once heat clears, phlegm does not generate; once fright disperses, wind does not arise, leading to natural stabilization.
The rationale for purging in acute convulsion applies when symptoms suddenly appear with upward eye rolling, lateral gaze, and opisthotonos; rapid purgation is indicated. If the pathogen has transmitted or convulsions have stopped, one should wait briefly before purging to avoid adverse outcomes. The acute convulsion stage is critical; the crisis occurs in moments. If the diagnosis is uncertain, hesitation leads to untreatable conditions. Clear judgment requires immediate medication.
Prognosis of Acute Convulsion Treatment:
Acute convulsion with epistaxis is easier to treat; smooth urination and defecation indicate easier treatment. If four major signs are complete before medication, but limbs become flaccid after medication, prognosis is poor. Difficulty in administering medication via spray or oral route indicates poor prognosis. Flaccidity of limbs after convulsions indicates poor prognosis. Eye reversal after convulsions indicates poor prognosis. If convulsions stop but the spirit is sluggish, seeking the mother's clothes or self-touching, the condition is incurable. If convulsions stop but consciousness is clouded and breathing is rapid, it is untreatable. Blood from the mouth during convulsion indicates poor prognosis. Incontinence of urine and feces during convulsion indicates poor prognosis.