ROLE OF DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS IN CLINICAL PRACTICE

Differential diagnosis plays a vital role in accurate disease identification and effective treatment planning. In Ayurveda, this concept is reflected in Sapekṣa Nidāna, which emphasizes the comparative evaluation of diseases with similar manifestations to arrive at a precise diagnosis. Classical Ayurvedic texts describe systematic diagnostic approaches such as Nidana Panchaka and various Pareeksha methods, which help physicians analyze diseases through their etiology, prodromal features, clinical manifestations, therapeutic responses and pathogenesis. In the present study, the utility of differential diagnosis is illustrated through selected examples where diseases are differentiated on the basis of Nidana, Purvarupa, Rupa, Upshaya–Anupshaya, and Samprapti. This approach highlights the analytical and scientific nature of Ayurvedic diagnostic principles and emphasizes their importance in achieving accurate diagnosis and individualized management in clinical practice.