Abstract

Background: In the Unani text, the disease described by the name Quba matches the conventional description of dermatophytosis, commonly referred to as Tinea or Ringworm. Although there is a slight variation in the disease etiology and pathogenesis, the clinical picture and the individual manifestations are by and large the same. This review elaborates on the Unani description of dermatophytosis (Quba) and highlights the relationship between the two entities.

Methods: This review article was compiled after surfing thoroughly the available classical Unani literature and published articles in reputed journals.

Results: This article comprehensively analyses both Quba and dermatophytosis as per their etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and management. Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection whereas Quba is identified to be caused by viscid humours (Ghaleez Ratubaat) and morbid matter (Fasid Mawaad). As per the Unani principles of treatment, the disease Quba is treated using purgatives of black bile (Mukhrij Sauda), resolvent (Muhallil), and moderator (Muaddil) drugs along with some physical modalities like Leeching (Irsale Alaq) and Venesection (Fas’d), which is entirely different from the conventional treatment modality which includes the fungistatic and fungicidal antifungal agents for systemic as well as topical use.

Conclusion: This article tries to elaborate on various aspects of the disease Quba and dermatophytosis and to establish a correlation between the two terms. It also puts forth a potential alternative to the conventional treatment of dermatophytosis (Quba), provided by the Unani system of medicine.

Keywords: Dermatophytosis, Quba, ringworm, tinea, Unani medicine, treatment.

Graphical Abstract