Ayurvedic Management of Global Developmental Delay (Samvardhana Vikara) in a Preterm Child: A Case Report

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) is a condition in children below five years characterized by significant delay in the attainment of developmental milestones in two or more domains, such as gross motor, fine motor, speech and language, cognitive, social and adaptive skills. It may be associated with factors such as prematurity, low birth weight, perinatal complications, hypoxic events, infections, genetic abnormalities and nutritional deficiencies. From the Ayurvedic perspective, developmental disorders may be understood predominantly through the involvement of Vata Dosha, particularly its role in the development and functioning of the nervous system. The concept of Samvardhana Vikara can be used to understand disorders affecting normal growth and development. Ayurvedic management focuses on balancing Vata, promoting nourishment and supporting the development of Mamsa, Majja and Ojas, along with measures aimed at improving neurological and cognitive functions. The present case study describes a 1-year-1-month-old male child with delayed developmental milestones, particularly delayed sitting, standing and walking, associated with decreased strength of the right upper and lower limbs. The child was born prematurely at 33 weeks with a birth weight of 1.6 kg and had a history of NICU admission. The child was managed through a multidisciplinary Ayurvedic approach consisting of Sarvanga Abhyanga, Shashtika Shali Pinda Sweda, Pratimarsha Nasya, Shirotalam, Matra Basti, internal medications and physiotherapy for 13 days. Improvement was observed in the child's ability to sit, stand with support, walk with one-hand support and engage in play. This case highlights the potential role of an integrated Ayurvedic and physiotherapeutic approach in supporting developmental progress in children with GDD.