A Comparative Clinical Study To Evaluate the Efficacy of Irsal-E-Alaq (Leech Therapy) And Marham-E-Quba in the Management of Quba (Dermatophytosis)

Quba is also known as dermatophytosis, tinea or ringworm. It is one of the commonest and oldest skin disease. Dermatophytosis is a fungal infection that is characterized by the infection of keratinized tissue such as epidermis, hair and nails caused by a group of closely related filamentous fungi called dermatophytes. Dermatophytosis usually present with typical annular or arcuate or polycyclic lesion which spread centrifugally. margin is active showing papulovesicles, pustule and scaling but center is relatively clear. it is associated with itching, scaling, dryness sometimes fish like scaly lesion shed off from skin.

Dermatophytosis is a curable fungal disease. it is usually treated by antifungal topical agents and oral medications, but there are certain limitations that need to be addressed like costly medications, long term therapy, recurrence of the disease, drug resistant and severe side effects of antifungal drugs.

In unani system of medicine, many topicals and systemic drugs are being used to treat this disease. similarly most of the unani scholars have recommended various regimenal therapies, which are quite effective to treat quba. these therapies are Irsal-e-alaq (leech therapy), fasd (venesection), hijama-bil-shurt (wet cupping), zimaad (paste), marham (ointment), tila (liniment).