There are five types of ''kasa'' namely, ''vataja, pittaja, kaphaja, kshataja'' and ''kshayaja''. ''Vatika kasa'' is more related to upper respiratory tract with ''swarabheda'' (hoarseness of voice) as its diagnostic feature and is unproductive. It resembles more to allergic rhinobronchitis, which may be self-limiting and curable. ''Paittika'' and ''kaphaja kasa'' involve lower respiratory tract and are productive in nature. While ''paittika kasa'' seems to be the result of inflammation, ''kaphaja kasa'' is due to mucosal hypertrophy of bronchial lining or chronic bronchitis. ''Kshyaja kasa'' is a state of chronic cough associated with emaciation. Charaka has mentioned that the disturbance in the action of ''jatharagni'' all the three ''doshas'' get vitiated, which causes emaciation of ''dhatus'' of the body either due to ''anulomana kshaya'' or ''pratiloma kshaya'' (Ch. Chi. 18/24). That makes it different from ''shosha'', which is a ''tridoshaja'' disease manifests as a group of several diseases. ''Kshataja kasa'' is associated with break in integrity of lung parenchyma with ''shonita darshana'' (blood tinged mucous) as a symptom. There may or may not be ''shosha'' (emaciation). | There are five types of ''kasa'' namely, ''vataja, pittaja, kaphaja, kshataja'' and ''kshayaja''. ''Vatika kasa'' is more related to upper respiratory tract with ''swarabheda'' (hoarseness of voice) as its diagnostic feature and is unproductive. It resembles more to allergic rhinobronchitis, which may be self-limiting and curable. ''Paittika'' and ''kaphaja kasa'' involve lower respiratory tract and are productive in nature. While ''paittika kasa'' seems to be the result of inflammation, ''kaphaja kasa'' is due to mucosal hypertrophy of bronchial lining or chronic bronchitis. ''Kshyaja kasa'' is a state of chronic cough associated with emaciation. Charaka has mentioned that the disturbance in the action of ''jatharagni'' all the three ''doshas'' get vitiated, which causes emaciation of ''dhatus'' of the body either due to ''anulomana kshaya'' or ''pratiloma kshaya'' (Ch. Chi. 18/24). That makes it different from ''shosha'', which is a ''tridoshaja'' disease manifests as a group of several diseases. ''Kshataja kasa'' is associated with break in integrity of lung parenchyma with ''shonita darshana'' (blood tinged mucous) as a symptom. There may or may not be ''shosha'' (emaciation). |