Definition :- It is that part of Ayurveda, which deals with child rearing, childhood illness and their treatment.

Komar Bhritya = Komar +Bhritya.

Komar (Kumar) is a title by which a child is addressed. Bhritya denotes the parent, child care taker or guide.

Komar Bhritya involves care child rearing and treating disease right from the time of conception up-to the age of maturity (up to 16 years). It also involves maintaining and protecting good health of the child. It is a scientific method of dealing with childhood disease symptoms, their diagnosis and treatment.

The following aspects of prevention and care are taken care of in Pediatric Ayurveda: -

• Infertility: its causes and its treatment.
• Proper development of fetus in the uterus.
• Care of maternal illness which may affect the fetus.
• Care of difficulties and problems during labor.

If considered along the lines of modern medical science, Pediatric Ayurveda can be divided into 3 parts.

• Gynecology (Stree Roga Vigyan ).
• Obstetrics and Fetal medicine (Prasuti Vigyan).
• Pediatrics (Balchikitsa Vigyan)

Today's era is the era of specialization. As a result, newer research and developments are occurring faster leading to subs-specialization and super-specialization. A doctor specialized in one category is not able to attain complete knowledge of other specialties. As a result, one patient may have to go to several consultants in order to treat his disease. But one should not forget that a human being is a psychophysical organism (Manodehik Tantra ) and his functioning is interdependent on various organs simultaneously. Ayurveda not only treats the disease symptoms but also takes care of the diseased personality and the person in totality.

Thus, this division of Ayurvedic branches have been done keeping the above in mind.

The subjects covered in Pediatric ayurveda are thus overlapping with each other because all these subjects are somehow related to child health. Right from conception, fetal growth and development (monthly), birth, neonatal development, infancy, toddler, pre-schooler, school-going child, adolescent - they are all related to child growth and development. Any subject related directly and indirectly to child health is included in Pediatric Ayurveda.



Last updated on 24-01-2001