Review of Phakka Roga in Children as a Broadspectrum Disorder; Specific Contribution From Kasyapa Samhita

Introduction: Phakka Roga in Ayurveda is a specific contribution from Kashyapa Samhita characterized by child’s inability to walk on their feet after the age of one year. This motor disability is a frequent presentation in paediatric practice and represents a significant area for exploration in Ayurveda. Background: The single symptom of motor disability in Phakka encompasses a broad etio-pathological spectrum. While prevention of Phakka through dietary habituation suggests a nutritional disorder, but the condition also correlates with various diseases such as cerebral palsy, rickets, poliomyelitis etc. Objective: Despite the chapter’s incompleteness, this aims to extract the practical implications from the available resources and to gain in-depth understanding of the concept. Method: Analysing the relevant chapter and comparing the etio-pathophysiology of Phakka with that of other conditions to minimize discrepancies and to give a comprehensive perspective on the disease. Result: Three types of Phakka i.e. Kshiraja, Garbhaja, and Vyadhija are discussed in terms of etiology, symptoms and treatment are considered as subsequent higher degree of symptoms. These corresponds to protein-energy malnutrition i.e. marasmus, kwashiorkor, and marasmic-kwashiorkor. Vyadhija Phakka is proposed either as a single disease representing the neurological sequelae of malnutrition or as a broad umbrella term encompassing multiple disorders.