Changes

Smoke, dust, and over exertion (''dhumopaghata, raja, vyayama'') are largely considered as causative factors (''samanya nidana'').  These may cause direct damage to the harmony of the ''pranavaha srotas'' which occurs in all respiratory disorders. Apart from above said causative factors some in particular like ''guru'' (heavy), ''snigdha'' (unctuous), ''madhura'' (sweet), ''asatmya'' (unhabituated), ''paryushita ahara'' (rotten food) will cause vitiation of ''dosha'', more specifically ''vata'' and ''kapha'' which will in turn have its impact on ''pranavaha srotas'' to cause structural and functional impairments (''kha vaigunya''). Improper diet will result in the improper digestion and absorption of ''ahara rasa'' which will in turn produce ''kasa''. These can be considered as intrinsic factors for the pathogenesis.  

Smoke, dust, and over exertion (''dhumopaghata, raja, vyayama'') are largely considered as causative factors (''samanya nidana'').  These may cause direct damage to the harmony of the ''pranavaha srotas'' which occurs in all respiratory disorders. Apart from above said causative factors some in particular like ''guru'' (heavy), ''snigdha'' (unctuous), ''madhura'' (sweet), ''asatmya'' (unhabituated), ''paryushita ahara'' (rotten food) will cause vitiation of ''dosha'', more specifically ''vata'' and ''kapha'' which will in turn have its impact on ''pranavaha srotas'' to cause structural and functional impairments (''kha vaigunya''). Improper diet will result in the improper digestion and absorption of ''ahara rasa'' which will in turn produce ''kasa''. These can be considered as intrinsic factors for the pathogenesis.  

Prodromal symptoms (purvarupa) are irritation of throat with pricking sensation, itching (kantha kandu) and inability to swallow (bhojyanam avarodha). These are very much similar with upper respiratory tract infection leading to condition of pharyngitis or pharyngotonsillitis and persistence of such upper respiratory tract infection will further spread to lower respiratory tract.

Prodromal symptoms (''purvarupa'') are irritation of throat with pricking sensation, itching (''kantha kandu'') and inability to swallow (''bhojyanam avarodha''). These are very much similar with upper respiratory tract infection leading to condition of pharyngitis or pharyngotonsillitis and persistence of such upper respiratory tract infection will further spread to lower respiratory tract.

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 selflimiting and curable. Paittika and kaphaj kasa involve lower respiratory tract and are productive in nature. While paittika kasa seems to be the result of inflammation, kaphaj 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).

Snehapana, vamana, virehna, vairechanika nasya (nasal catarrhal) dhumapana (medicated cigaretes) are indicated as treatment modalities in different types of kasa.

 

''Snehapana, vamana, virehna, vairechanika nasya'' (nasal catarrhal), and ''dhumapana'' (medicated cigarettes) are indicated as treatment modalities in different types of ''kasa''.

=== Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation ===

=== Sanskrit Text, Transliteration and English Translation ===