A Study on Pitha Kaasam

AIM AND OBJECTIVES: Siddha system is considered to be the most ancient therapeutic science in the world. Siddhars have identified four thousand four hundred and forty eight disease and Scientifically arranged eighty type of Vaatha diseases, forty types of Pitha diseases and twenty types of Kaba diseases and so on. Among all the forms of treatment Noi Naadal (or) Identification of disease and Noi muthal naadal (or) the determination of the aetiology of the disease are the most important aspects. Once the diagnosis is accurate the treatment may be easily fulfilled. Super intellectual siddhars, devised and utilized a special cost effective technique for diagnosing a disease know as Envagai thervugal. They are Naadi, Sparisam, Naa, Niram, Mozhi, Vizhi, Malam and Moothiram. The following specific objectives have been drawn to achieve the above aim, 1. To collect the ancient Siddha literatures about Kaasa disease in general and Pitha Kaasam in particularly. 2. To study the clinical course of the disease Pitha Kaasam with clean observation on the actiology, clinical fetures and diagnosis. 3. To evaluate the siddha basic physiology and Pathology. 4. To make a thorough physical examination of the patient. 5. To find out the changes that occur in Uyirthadukkal, Udalthadukkal and in Naadi. 6. To support the study of Pitha Kaasam by using envagai thervugal, mentioned in siddha literatures with modern parameters. 7. To discuss the clinical features and complications associated with pitha kaasam. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical study on Pitha Kaasam has been taken in the post graduate department of Noi Naadal. The clinical study was done in 30 cases, of them 21 cases were selected. In which I had selected 21 cases to evaluate typical picture by siddha parameters along with modern parameters. The detailed history of the present and past illness and family history were observed. EVALUATION OF CLINICAL PARAMETERS 1. The detailed history and clinical features of the patients were taken carefully. 2. The clinical history. 3. Detail history of present and past illness. 4. Personal and family history. 5. Diet habits. 6. Exposure to cold weather. Clinical features for Pitha Kaasam are 1. Presistent Cough, 2. Sensation of sweet and salt taste in the tongue. 3. Vomiting, 4. Headache, 5. Body pain, 6. Burning sore throat, 7. Haemoptysis, 8. Dyspnoea, 9. Anorexia with sour taste regurgitation, 10. Horripillation, 11. Fever and 12. State of Confusion. The disease is characterized by • Cough with expectoration is due to irritation of respiratory tract result in stimulation of vagal nerve endings. • Vomiting is due to mechanical stimulation of pharynx. • Dyspnoea is due to pulmonary insufficiency (inadequately functioning alveolar tissue). • Anorexia is due to acute fibrile illness. • Headache and body pain is due to fever. • Sore throat is due to infection of the larynx. • Haemoptysis is due to erosion of capillaries in a lung. • Fever is due to infection of lung parenchyma, Horripillation is due to chill. • State of confusion is due to cerebral hypoxia, result from filling of alveoli with fluid. All of these symptoms correlate with “Pitha Kaasam” explained by our great siddhar Yugimuni. \ CONCLUSION: Identification of disease and its pathogenesis are pre requisite for medical practice. A detailed history taking, clinical examinations as per siddha guidelines is necessary to arrive at precise diagnosis. The study on Pitha Kaasam was carried out in the dissertation, giving importance to the characteristics of the disease like Persistent Cough, Sensation of sweet and salt taste in the tongue, Vomiting, Headache, Body pain, Burning sore throat, Haemoptysis, Dyspnoea, Anorexia with sour taste regurgitation, Horripillation, Fever and State of Confusion. Diagnosis can be carried out by detailed history taking, classical clinical examination of siddha system, Via, Envagaithervugal including Naadi and Neerkuri, and changes in seven physical constituents and three humours. Whether this disease is curable or not is carried out by examination of siddha system, via, Neikuri and Manikkadai nool. This study on Pitha Kaasam may be correlates with Pneumonia, which has given relevance to modern clinical entity