Impact of add on effect of Panchakarma therapies in the management of Rickets: A case report

Abstract

A 3.5 year old male child came to kaumarabhritya outpatient department with complaint of inability to stand without support and inability to walk without support. On examination, lab test, patient was diagnosed with nutritional rickets. The management included panchakarma procedures with Vitamin D 3 and calcium supplementation. Upon follow-up after 10 days of treatment, the patient showed slight improvement and was able to stand without support and walk with support and after one month of treatment, the patient was walking without support, and had a good appetite with a slight increase in weight. Ayurveda mentioned various diseases related to the children and their therapeutic management. Ayurveda gives prime focus to the health of children therefore described health related issue of children in separate branch called as Kaumarabhritya. Nutritional insufficiency, lack of immunity, diminishes digestive strength and weak physical strength, etc. mainly considered responsible for childhood disorders. There are many disorders related to the nutritional deficiency which described as Apatarpanajanya vyadhis in Ayurveda and Phakka roga is one of them. This condition on the basis of symptomatic similarities can be correlated as rickets as per the modern science. Despite the high incidence of nutritional deficiencies, there is still a lack of awareness and late presentations of such cases, which can lead to complications if not detected early. The management primarily focuses on improving Agni, nutrition, and tissue nourishment through Brimhana, Deepana-Pachana, and Rasayana therapies, which help promote growth and development in children. In the management of Phakka Roga Prakruta rasa Nirmana is very important by improvement in mandagni with the help of Mrudu Shodhana (Udavartanam) followed by Deepan, Pachana, Bruhana therapy. This case demonstrates the importance of Ayurveda line of management with supplementation in improving the sign and symptoms of rickets.