Ayurvedic Name: Pravahika
Description:
Pravahika is dysentery, where frequent stools contain mucus and blood due to aggravated Pitta and Kapha. It results in severe abdominal cramps, dehydration, and fatigue. Treatment includes Kutaja, Musta, and dietary changes to heal the intestines.
Signs & Symptoms:
- Vishama Graha (Dysentery): Severe diarrhea with blood, mucus, or pus in the stool.
Shwasa (Breathlessness): Difficulty breathing due to fluid loss and fever. - Trishna (Excessive Thirst): Intense thirst from dehydration.
- Dourbalya (Weakness): Weakness and fatigue due to fluid loss and nutrient depletion.
- Rukshata (Dryness): Dry mouth and skin from dehydration.
- Agnimandya (Poor Digestion): Digestive distress, often with cramping and discomfort.
Diagnosis:
Stool Test with Presence of Mucus and Blood
Risk Factors:
- Dietary Factors
Contaminated Food and Water: Drinking untreated or contaminated water or eating unhygienic food can lead to dysentery.
Excessive Fatty Foods: High-fat foods can disrupt digestion and lead to gastrointestinal distress, contributing to dysentery. - Lifestyle Factors
Poor Hygiene: Poor sanitation and hygiene, especially in developing countries, increase the risk of contracting dysentery.
Crowded Living Conditions: Close quarters or unsanitary conditions in densely populated areas can facilitate the spread of dysentery-causing pathogens. - Medical Conditions
Bacterial Infections: Dysentery is often caused by bacteria like Shigella or Entamoeba histolytica, leading to bloody diarrhea.
Weak Immune System: Individuals with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, are at higher risk of dysentery.
Complications:
- Severe Dehydration (Trishna Kshaya): Like diarrhea, dysentery can lead to significant fluid and electrolyte loss, increasing the risk of dehydration.
- Systemic Infection (Vishama Jwara): Dysentery often results from bacterial infections that can spread to other organs, leading to systemic complications.
- Intestinal Bleeding (Rakta Kshaya): In severe cases, dysentery can lead to bleeding in the intestines, resulting in bloody stools.
- Chronic Fatigue (Dourbalya): The constant loss of fluids and nutrients, combined with infection, can lead to prolonged fatigue and weakness.
- Colonic Inflammation (Vishama Graha Shotha): Repeated episodes of dysentery can cause chronic inflammation in the colon, leading to conditions like ulcerative colitis.
Epidemeology:
Affects approximately 1-2% of the global population annually, with higher rates in developing countries. More common in young children and the elderly, with 5 million cases of dysentery reported globally each year.
Higher incidence in areas with poor sanitation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where access to clean water and healthcare is limited. Bacterial infections, especially from Shigella or Entamoeba histolytica, are major contributors to the prevalence of dysentery.
Increased risk for malnourished individuals, those with weak immune systems (e.g., HIV/AIDS), and those living in crowded conditions.
References:
- 1. D. Singhal, S.N. Tripathi, K. R. Sharma. Madhav Nidana – Ayurved ClinicalDiagnosis. Varanasi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan, 2012; 35.
- Acharya P. V. Sharma. DravyagunaVidnyan, Dwitiya Bhaga. Edition: Reprint. Varanasi: ChaukhambaBharati Academy, 2005; 370.
- Prof.Siddhanand Mishra. Bhaishajyaratnavali of Kaviraj Govinddas Sen. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Surabharati Prakashan, 2017; 343.
- Acharya P. V. Sharma. Dravyaguna Vidnyan, Dwitiya Bhaga. Edition: Reprint. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Bharati Academy, 2017; 253.
- Vd. GangadharshastriGopalraoGune. Ayurvediya Aushadhigunadharmashastra, Bhag 3- Sanyuktakalpa. Delhi: Chaukhambha Sanskrit Prakashan, 2014; 102.
- https://www.wjpmr.com/download/article/109052023/1685531856.pdf
