EFFECTIVENESS OF THIRIKANDAGATHI KIYAAZHAM IN TREATING AZHAL NEERCHURUKKU (URINARY TRACT INFECTION) – A CASE SERIES

Urinary tract infections (Azhal Neerchurukku) are among the most common bacterial infections, causing significant discomfort and reduced daily functioning. This descriptive case series aimed to observe outcomes following the administration of the Siddha medicine Thirikandagathi Kiyaazham (TKK) in the management of Azhal Neerchurukku (UTI). Methods: Twenty participants diagnosed with Azhal Neerchurukku (UTI) were administered 50 ml of TKK twice daily for 10 days. Clinical symptoms (using the UTISA questionnaire), total WBC count, and urine culture results were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: Observational data indicated improvements in clinical symptom scores and urine culture findings in post-intervention. Notably, a transition to culture-negative status was observed in 50% of cases where Escherichia coli was initially isolated. Conclusion: In this case series, a 10-day course of TKK was associated with observed improvements in clinical and laboratory parameters among participants, particularly in E. coli-associated cases. These preliminary findings suggest that TKK may serve as a promising Siddha therapeutic option for managing Azhal Neerchurukku (UTI). Definitive conclusions regarding therapeutic efficacy require future controlled studies.