Cognitive process and syndrome differentiation as well as treatment strategy of traditional Chinese medicine in epidemic disease named as “common cold caused by abnormal seasonal changes”

In the recent 20 years, acute respiratory infectious diseases caused by influenza virus and coronavirus have seriously threatened human health. It is a highly infectious and lethal disease, and can even lead to acute lung injury complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). In traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), it is named as “common cold caused by abnormal seasonal changes” and is classified as “epidemic febrile disease”. According to the epidemic characteristics, clinical manifestations and outcomes of diseases, a relatively perfect theoretical system of TCM differentiation and treatment for epidemics has been formed. In the treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19), TCM has achieved remarkable therapeutic effects. This study summarized the cognitive history of epidemics and the methodology of TCM differentiation and treatment so as to provide new ideas for prevention and control of influenza and acute respiratory infectious diseases represented by COVID-19.