American Journal of Advanced Drug Delivery Open Access

Keywords

COVID-19, Siddha medical system, PCR positive cases

Introduction

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19. [1-4]

Symptoms: the most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness other symptoms that are less common and may affect some patients include aches and pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms. [5-8]

Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. Around 1 out of every 5 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart and lung problems, diabetes, or cancer, are at higher risk of developing serious illness. However, anyone can catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill. [9-11]

Many reports have indicated that people with no symptoms can transmit the virus. It is not yet known how often it happens. As on 23rd July 2020, in India 1,239,684 confirmed cases, deaths 29,890 and recovered as 784,266. In Tamil Nadu 181,000 were confirmed, 127,000 recovered and deaths 2,626 on 23rd of July, 2020. [12]

The Government of India has presently imposed a lockdown in the country as a way of preventing COVID-19 and breaking its chain of spread. The Government is also taking effective steps for early identification of the infection and providing adequate prevention and timely medical care. [13, 14]

WHO states that, till date, no effective management to address this infection has been discerned and attempts are being made to integrate a few traditional interventions along with standard treatment protocols of COVID-19.

Unlike other pathogenic microorganism viruses are unique in that they have no cell wall and they can’t multiply on their own instead they need a live cell (host) within which they multiply. So, antiviral drugs are usually less effective because the viruses are present within the live cells. Instead the host immunity plays a major role in determining the course of viral diseases. So, siddha medicines which mainly focus on enhancing the host immunity could play a major role in viral diseases. [15-18]

As per Siddha classical wisdom, improving immunity with immune boosters is one of the key approaches for prevention of disease and maintenance of health. Therefore, a strategy to enhance immunity and provide symptomatic relief in upper respiratory tract infection is advocated in these guidelines for qualified Siddha Medical practitioners.

Siddha scholars have prescribed several single drugs as well as compound formulations for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases in general. They have emphasized more on the use of certain drugs which are known to improve host immunity during the outbreak of epidemics, endemics and pandemics. [19, 20]

This research objective was to evaluate the Covid-19 symptoms control by the siddha treatment protocol because of the siddha medical system handling with the host response management with combined natural resources. [21]

Materilas and Methods

Research Type

Clinical Case Study

Research Design

Collected data from Government Siddha Medical College and Hospital COVID-19 isolation ward, campus of Tirunelveli medical college, Tamil Nadu, India.

COVID -19 Positive all cases were included for study with their concern.

Maximum 10 days of direct observation was carried out in this isolation ward and continued the followed up data collection of every samples.

Sample size

159

Data collection instrument

Case sheets

Research Analysis

Simple Descriptive Statistical Methods

Clinical study

Assessment criteria: Symptoms - by grading the score: 0-10

No complaint -                        0

Mild symptom -                       2

Moderate symptom -               4

Marked symptom -                  6

Marked symptom -                  6

Marked symptom -                  6

Symptom as Fever (in body temperature 0F)

No fever                        0        97 0F - 97.9 0F

No fever                        0        97 0F - 97.9 0F

Moderate fever              4        99 0F - 99.9 0F

Marked fever                 6        100 0F - 100.9 0F

Highly marked fever       8        101 0F - 101.9 0F

Severe fever                  10      102 0F and above

Reality Test with sample verbal score of symptoms used in loss of smell and loss of taste.

Result and Observations

The results as tabulated revealed that the patients were completely relieved from the symptoms by the end of the 10 days treatment.

Apart from internal medicines various infectious disease control measures recommended in siddha classical literatures were also introduced which acted synergistically and fastened the recovery. The herbal juices and herbal tea which was formulated with drugs having antiviral properties and drugs having promising effects on respiratory tract, proved to be very useful. (Figures 1-8) (Tables 1-7)

Figure 1: Age distribution of samples.

Figure 2: Gender distribution.

Figure 3: Symptoms of COVID-19 PCR test - positive samples.

Figure 4: Herbal hot infusion

Figure 5: Herbal concoction

Figure 6: Herbal fumigation

Figure 7: Herbal air cleanser for mask

Figure 8: Daily management schedule.

Table 1: Distribution of age groups.

Table 2: Gender distribution.

Table 3: Symptoms of COVID-19 PCR test - positive samples.

Table 4: Daily management schedule.

Table 5: Supportive managements.

Table 6: Personal practices.

Table 7: Medicines which were used in management of COVID-19 positive cases.

Clinical Study (Figures 9-11) (Table 8)

Figure 9: Progress of COVID -19 symptoms – dry cough

Figure 10: Progress of COVID -19 symptoms – fever

Figure 11: Progress of COVID -19 symptoms – no smell

Table 8: Clinical symptoms progress on 10 days’ managements in particular selected samples.

Discussion

The results and observations showed that the siddha treatment protocol followed during the study period is very effective in the management of COVID19 disease.

The treatment protocol was specifically planned for each patient depending on the various manifestations of the disease. If the patient has dry cough;  Kaba sura kudineer - 30 ml before meals, twice a day, Thalisadi vadagam - 2 tab. After meals, twice a day, Adathodai manapagu - 2 tea spoon with warm water, after meals, twice a day were used to relief dry cough completely by the grading score analysis.

If fever condition, following management had given as; Kaba sura kudineer -30 ml before meals, twice a day, Linga chendooram -200 mg mixed with Thirikaduku chooranam -2g after meals, twice a day, Brahmanantha Birava mathirai 01 pill, after meals, twice a day were observed to reduce body temperature to normal.

Kaba sura kudineer-30 ml before meals, twice a day, Herbal Smolder –frequently, Vasantha kusumahara mathirai-01 pill, after meals, twice a day, Thalisadi vadagam - 2 tab. After meals, twice a dayand Adathoda manapagu -2 tea spoon with warm water, after meals, twice a day were observed to cure the anosmia to normal. These medicines were continued until the symptoms subsides completely.

As other specific symptoms also control and cure by the specific siddha management or treatment respectively within 10 days.

Other symptoms such as; Throat irritation, Headache, Running Nose (rhinitis), No Taste (ageusia), Joints pain (arthralgia), Lose motion (diarrhoea), Drowsiness, Generalize weakness and Difficult to breath (dyspnoea).

This research revealed that, how to maintaining Aseptic condition in personal and surrounding such as; air cleanser for mask is personal use and herbal fumigation for disinfection process of premises of individual. These innovative thoughts developed to maintain and proved siddha medical system is equal to modern medical system by ancient scientists as siddhars. ((Figure 12)

Figure 12: Summary of COVID – 19 symptoms’ relief of samples

Conclusion

Finally concluded as; symptoms of COVID-19; dry cough, fever, loss of smell (anosmia), Throat irritation, Headache, Running Nose (rhinitis), No Taste (ageusia), Joints pain (arthralgia), Lose motion (diarrhoea), Drowsiness, Generalize weakness and Difficult to breath (dyspnoea) were control and cure by the specific siddha management within short period of isolation wards successfully.

Acknowledgment

We sincerely thank our Principal, Vice Principal and residential Medical Officer, Government Siddha Medical College & Hospital, Tirunelveli for giving full support & encouragement to our team. We also render our special thanks to health care providers as; nursing staff, attendants, cleaning servicers, general duty health care workers and house surgeons of the GSMC&H, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Conflict of Interest

Author declares that no any conflict of interest in this research work.

Funding

No any grant or funding for this research work.

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