Unani Perspective of Sinusitis (Iltihab e Tajaweef e Anaf): A Literary Review

Sinusitis refers to an inflammatory condition involving the four paired structures surrounding the nasal cavity. In Unani system of medicines according to the father of medicines Buqrat [Hippocrates] the nasla is the condition in which the nasal mucosa gets inflamed and always associated with excessive nasal discharge, while zukam is a nazla of nasal mucosal lining. It is estimated that 6 to 13 percent of children will have had one case of acute sinusitis by the age of three years. It is the 5th leading diagnosis for which antibiotics are prescribed. In USA the prevalence of sinusitis is estimated to be 14 percent of the global population. Most of the Unani scholars have given both extrinsic [external environmental factors] and intrinsic [factors with in human body] responsible for sinusitis. The important causes of sinusitis are allergic rhinitis and viruses [rhinovirus, parainflunza virus and infulnza virus]. Pain on respected sinus sites headache and postal nasal drip are major symptoms. The main stay of treatment for acute sinusitis is symptomatic relief and analgesics. Line of treatment in Unani medicines should be started with Izale sabab, ilaj bil ghiza, Ilajbil tadbeer and then ilaj bil dawa.