Evaluation of Pathadi Churna in management of Tundikeri in Children with special reference to Tonsillitis - A Randomised controlled clinical trial

Tonsillitis is an infection-related inflammation of the tonsils, frequently affecting school going children .The Incidence in school going children in India is 7% .About 7,455,494 cases of tonsillitis and 200,000 tonsillectomies are performed in India per year . Palatine tonsils represent the predominant immunocompetent tissue of upper respiratory tract. Its major function is as a first line of defence against viral, bacterial and food antigens that enter the upper aerodigestive system.

Another major function of the tonsils is to supply the local mucosal immune system of the upper respiratory tract with dimeric IgA-producing B cells. Secretory IgA has particular hydrophilic properties and is capable of preventing adsorption and penetration of bacteria and virus into upper respiratory tract mucosa .Tonsillitis of viral origin is usually treated with supportive care. Bacterial tonsillitis is most common caused by streptococcus pyogen .

Tonsillitis causes local immunological damages which lead to frequent development of the disease, hence affecting the child’s growth and development . The most widely used medication for tonsillitis are a group of antibiotics such as Penicillin, amoxicillin, erythromycin etc and surgery known as tonsillectomy, which are having adverse effect such as eruption of skin, nephrotoxicity, diarrhea, life threatening conditions like shock , post-operative bleeding, dehydration, uvular edema and damage or trauma to the adjacent anatomical tissue  . Hence there is a need for alternative treatment modality for the treatment of tonsillitis.

In Ayurveda Tonsillitis can be understood under the concept of tundikeri, which has various treatment modalities mentioned by Acharyas such as shaman aushadi, kavala , dhoompan, pratisarana, nasya etc. One of such shaman aushadhi mentoned by Acharya Charka is Pathadi churna, by virtue of its properties such as Galarogahara, vata pitta kaphahara doshaaghna, might be effecting in treating tundikeri (tonsillitis).