A Single group, Pre-Post Study to assess the therapeutic utility of Kents Repertory in the treatment of Chronic urticaria among the Patients between the age group of 20 to 40 years

INTRODUCTION

Chronic urticaria (CU) is the recurrence of wheals, angioedema, or both related to an inflammatory rection with unknown aetiology, lasting 6 weeks due to a variety of known and unknown reasons. The condition is characterized by a central swelling surrounded by an itchy erythema, whereas angioedema is linked with severe swelling of the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue, with the occasional involvement of the mucous membranes of the lips and tongue. Chronic urticaria is split into two types: chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU); that related with either idiopathic or autoimmune cause and chronic inducible urticaria (CIU); that due to physical factors. The lack of a distinct identifiable trigger cause subjugated with non-specific course and symptoms might make treating the disorder difficult. Previous research has shown that the prevalence is higher in the 20 – 40year age range, but it can occur in any age group [3]. Physicians are concerned about CSU because it not only impacts physical health but also impairs quality of life due to variables such as subcutaneous oedema, itching, and pain [4]. Sleep deprivation has been connected to the emergence of itching and hives [5-7], suggesting that mental health might be damaged to some extent. According to studies, delays in diagnosis are usually related with such diseases, lengthening the period of suffering for patients. The average time to diagnosis in Canada was 24 months, 3 years in Central/South America, and 2-4 years in Western Europe [8,9]. This causes severe frustration in up to 67 percent of patients, not to mention the excessive use of medical resources for no additional benefit, which has a significant impact on quality of life [10,11]. Furthermore, studies have shown that throughout the phase of following SARS-CoV-2 waves, hospital-based urticaria centers of reference and excellence (UCAREs) experienced numerous obstacles, resulting in large delays in the treatment of chronic urticaria patients [12]. Homoeopathy has faced a high demand among the patients suffering from various dermatological illnesses in recent years [13]. As there are no study conducted in this part of the country on

chronic urticaria so considering the scenario in this study we will try to access the efficacy of homoeopathic medicine to treat the patients suffering from CU and to determine the changes it can cause to upgrade the quality of life among the patients with the help of Chronic Urticaria Quality of Life Questionnaire (CU-Q2O)..The main goal of treatment of CU are to relief the systemic symptoms with improvement of physical and mental functions. Modern medications have limited scope to treat CU.

In Homoeopathy the innermost core of philosophy allows treating the patient on the idea of individualization. Homoeopathy acts both as a preventive moreover as a curative mode of treatment because it relies on the totality of presenting symptoms regardless of the name of disease. The totality includes subjective and objective understanding about the disease state where the underlying cause and also the individual’s susceptibility are being addresses.

JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY-

With such huge number and impact on quality of life of an individual, recurrent acute episodes of chronic urticaria cases are become challenge for health care system of any nation and their long-term solution offers will help the individual and society at large. As mentioned, the conventional system has very little to offer and even those modest benefits are to be evaluated over the possible harms. The homoeopathic medicines based on individualization have a great scope in treating these cases and in addition they also improve the general health and well-being of the person in a gentle way. However, there is some of literature to support this. The earlier works [14,15,16] on the subject are either not based on concept of individualization and single medicine or lack quality and use of validated scale. Hence, this study is undertaken.

RESEARCH QUESTION: - Are Individualized homoeopathic medicines effective in reducing the severity and improvement of quality of life of patients suffering from chronic urticaria using Kent’s repertory?

HYPOTHESIS:

Null Hypothesis (H0):- There is no significant role of individualized homoeopathic medicines in reducing the severity in patients with chronic urticaria.

Alternative Hypothesis (HA):- Individualized homoeopathic medicines have significant role in reducing the severity in patients with chronic urticaria.