KORO EPIDEMIC: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY

Abstract

BACKGROUND A massive Koro epidemic hit Tripura in 2015. This is probably the sixth Koro epidemic in India. OBJECTIVE The objective was to identify profile of affected persons for such conditions. METHODOLOGY The present paper deals with the descriptions of 57 Koro cases in Tripura. The different aspects of the epidemic including clinical presentation, health seeking behaviour, folk treatments and preventive strategies are discussed from transcultural perspective. RESULT Younger males were predominantly affected. Poor literacy and socio-economic conditions were the likely contributing factors. Male patients have almost similar symptoms of presentation like shrinkage of penis, feeling weakness, tingling sensation over the genital area, palpitation, sleep disturbances and immense fear of impending death once if it enters inside abdomen. Retraction of breast and genitalia are the common presenting features among females. CONCLUSION Large scale IEC activities to be carried out to reach to different sections of the population in order to mitigate mass fear, anxiety and to increase the spread of rational and timely information.