A case study on the effectiveness of Attai vedal (leech therapy) for the treatment of Karappan (eczema)

There are more than 3000 known common skin diseases. Eczema, generally referred to as karappan, is a prevailing dermatological condition often seen in clinical settings. It is not an immediately life-threatening disease; it is a chronic disease that has a physiological and social impact on a patient’s life. The skin lesion is manifested externally and visible to all. So, the patient feels detested and has depression. The disease may affect any age, but it is common in school-going age and 1-3 percent of adults. It is characterized by itching followed by redness, erythema, and papules. The papules may turn to vesicles. The condition known as karappan in the Siddha system of medicine is considered equivalent due to the presence of analogous signs and symptoms. Management of eczema involves emollients, steroids, and topical application therapy given in other systems. It will give temporary remedies even after use, relapse, recurrence and other complications are common. Hence, there is a need for alternative drugs and therapy that has a good efficacy in this debilitating disorder, which is possible through the Siddha system of medicine. Leech therapy (attai vidal) our siddhars have given importance to bloodletting therapy and concede leech is the most unique and effective method of bloodletting even in an infected wound, skin disease, and abscesses. The present case was carried out in the OPD of the department of Sirappu Maruthuvam, Government Siddha Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu in India. The course of treatment has shown significant improvement in terms of alleviating all of the symptoms and improving the patient's easy score.