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Cytokine storm, which is an overreaction of the immune system to external stimulation, is characterized by a rapid increase in cytokine levels and leucocyte counts due to a positive feedback loop, and results in tissue damage and organ dysfunction with a highly inflammatory state. By analyzing the pathogeny, histopathology, disease progression, and clinical manifestation of diseases related to cytokine storm, this article summarizes key information from traditional Chinese medicine for syndrome differentiation. The etiologies of cytokine storm include external causes and causes that are neither internal nor external, and pathologies such as toxin, phlegm, blood stasis, and deficiency are also observed during cytokine storm. The spectrum of diseases covers warm-heat and damp-heat diseases, which could be differentiated using Weifen-Qifen-Yingfen-Xuefen theory; in addition, the fight between vital qi and pathogenic qi can be divided into syndromes with good prognosis and syndromes with unfavorable prognosis. The most commonly injured organs are the lung, heart, spleen, and stomach. However, during the treatment of diseases related to cytokine storm, attention should be paid to the above information to estimate the risk of a cytokine storm occurring, and to adopt appropriate treatment method to prevent its occurrence and improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]