Abstract

Abstract

The present pandemic ‘Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)’ has greatly stumbled the whole world. COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease caused by a novel virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-Cov-2). The warning sign of COVID-19 range from mild to severe; without hospitalisation, most of the people nearly 80% have improved, while other 20% become seriously ill requiring oxygen with 5% becoming critically ill and needing intensive care. Since its first identification, it is been spreading in lightning speed , affecting the health of global population as well as the day-to-day life of every sector of people leading to adverse global socioeconomic impact. This high surge in mortality and incidence rate has alerted every system of medicine for their active contribution in fighting against this disease. Ayurveda, being an ancient Indian medicinal system, had already explained and treated many pandemics since its dawn, considering them as Janapadoddhva?sa vikara. However, Janapadoddhva?sa is a broad term and a vast number of diseases can be included under this; hence deducing COVID-19 pandemic to a separate disease entity as per Ayurveda is crucial. Later Acaryas like Acarya Ga?anatha Sen had described a disease named Shleshmaka Jvara in his book ‘Siddhanta Nidana’ which is in accordance with the characteristics of the present pandemic COVID -19. The present article focuses on bringing to light, the close affinity of the pandemic COVID-19 and Shleshmaka Jvara.