ROLE OF DIETARY AND LIFESTYLE FACTORS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF SHOSHA (PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS): AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: From Stone Age to space age the food pattern and life style habits are changing very fast, this change of course is having direct impact over the health. Due to over exertion, suppressing of the natural urges, irregular dieting and depletion of the tissue elements, there is manifestation of ekadasha rupa of shosha. In modern era, shosha can be correlated to tuberculosis. It is a major public health problem in India due to the environmental changes, changes in behavioral dietetic habits, poor quality of life, population explosion, under nutrition, and lack of awareness about cause of disease and modern life style. Aims and objectives: To evaluate the role of dietary and lifestyle factors in the pathogenesis of shosha. Methods and materials: An observational study was conducted on 30 patients selected from T.B. Section of Civil Hospital, Bijapur., irrespective of sex, religion, etc., who had presented with the clinical symptoms of tuberculosis. Information on demography, dietary intake and lifestyle factors was collected by standard questionnaire. Results: Over exertion was found in 40% of patients while, depletion of the tissue elements was found in 60% of patients, suppressing of the natural urges was found in 26.66% of patients.  Nearly 30% of the patients were taking dry food stuffs. Conclusion:  According to the obtained results the sequential pattern of etiology as it was given in classics has changed the sequence in now a days as over exertion, suppressing of the natural urges, irregular dieting and depletion of the tissue elements. It is because of the changing life style and habits of individual. Trirupa (3 symptoms) and shad rupa (6 symptoms) are found in earlier stage of the tuberculosis and ekadasha rupa (11 symptoms) in chronic condition of tuberculosis.