Abstract

CONTRIBUTION OF SHALAKYA IN PREVENTING THE PROGRESS OF MUCORMYCOSIS IN CURRENT PANDEMIC

Harikrishnan N. Menon*, Syed Munawar Pasha and Avinash G. S.

ABSTRACT

Mucorrmycosis is a serious but a rare fungal infection caused by a group of molds called mucormycetes. It mainly affects people whose immunity is compromised, which we can mainly see in current scenario of Pandemic. As there immunity is affected by Covid and its surrounding factors such as treatment with corticosteroids which is an immunosuppressant and sysytemic conditions such as Diabetes makes the patient more vulnerable. Rhino orbital cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) cases are on a rise in India. Incidence has been on an increasing trend at 12.9 cases. There are not too many drugs available to treat the condition and in India one of the major problems is patients reporting late to the hospital. Here comes the role of Shalakya Tantra, if patients come with the symptoms such as Blurring of vision, swelling in one side of the face, nasal congestion and headache to the Opd. So by checking the clinical history we will be able to diagnose the disease early and prevent it from further progression. As immunity is affected mainly we can use Ayurveda to improve the immunity by Rasayana chikitsa. Thus by this paper we are trying to explain how Ayurveda can be used for prevention and help in the early diagnosis of mucormycosis.

Keywords: Mucormycosis, Black fungus, Ayurveda, Shalakya.