Abstract

RELEVANCE OF DISORDERS CAUSED BY AFFLICTION OF SHASHTHI GRAHA W.S.R. TO INFECTION OF EARLY NEONATAL PERIOD

Dr. Shilpy Gupta* and Kumar Vijendra

ABSTRACT

Graha is a descriptive term and collection of symptoms rather than a disease and has been used in Ayurvedic classics in cases where etiology is unknown and can be seen only by sukshma drishti (microvision). Infection occurring in early neonatal period vary from minor ailment to severe complicated disease or may be fatal i.e., leading to death. The protection afforded by placental immunoglobulins has a half-life of around 3–6 months and only provide immunity to those conditions that the mother has previously been exposed to or vaccinated against. Babies therefore have weak and immature immune system in early life after birth and are prone to infection. A unique description of shashthi graha has been given in context of bala graha. As its name signifies it is the disease of early neonatal period occurring on sixth day of neonate. It has various names, the name represents its way of manifestation or the physical characteristics involved in diseases progression. The risk factors are both maternal and child borne. The preventive and curative measures are purely divine and rational i.e., according to the presentation of disease. Dhupan procedure (fumigation) for its prevention mainly indicates infectious nature of disease. Shashthi graha can be thus considered as early neonatal sepsis involving multiple organs and system; is of varying etiology and presentation.

Keywords: Bala graha, Dhupana, Early neonatal period, Neonatal Sepsis, Shashthi graha.