Analysis of similarities and differences between coronavirus disease 2019 and severe acute respiratory syndrome

Both coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are epidemic, contagious, sudden, and publicly harmful diseases. The whole-genome nucleotide identity of the pathogens causing the two diseases reached 79.5%. The mechanism and treatment of COVID-19 are still under investigation. Combining the experiences of SARS prevention and treatment in 2003, and the case data and literature of COVID-19, the similarities and differences between the two diseases in terms of causes, susceptible people, characteristics, dialectical mode, and treatment were analyzed. The two diseases are both plagues in terms of Chinese medicine. The cause of SARS was "heat poison," and its pathogenesis was "heat poison, stasis, and qi and yin deficiency." Therefore the treatment regimen was mainly to clear away heat, detoxicate, and expel evil. While the cause of COVID-19 was "wet poison," and its pathogenesis was "wet, poison, heat, stasis, close, syncope, and yang collapse." Hence the basic treatment strategy was to declare lung and remove dampness. Treatment of COVID-19 was clearing away evil qi as soon as possible, with the basic treatment regimen, which was declaring lung, removing dampness, and dispelling the evil. Combined with Traditional Chinese medicine's (TCM's) understanding and experience in SARS prevention and treatment, and Chinese clinical cured cases, we try to provide strategies for people all over the world to understand and respond to COVID-19, through the analysis and comparison. To improve COVID-19 prevention and treatment regimen and give full play to the advantages of TCM.