COVID-19 CLINICAL PREENTATION
COVID-19 CLINICAL PREENTATION
It was the late of
year 2019, when a novel coronavirus, now designing a severe form
of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),
was recognized as a causative for an outbreak of acute
respiratory illness in Wuhan,
a city in China. In Feb 2020,
the WHO designated this disease (COVID-19) that stands for coronavirus infection
2019. The reported “incubation period”
for COVID-19 can be reached as long
as 14 d, with many cases mostly observed 4-5 days post-exposure.
Pneumonia is the most frequent serious complication of this type of infection,
with nearly 15
% of ptns may develop severe disease with hypoxia,
dyspnea, or intense pulmonary affection. Moreover, fever, cough, and/or SOB, other features, may
include upper respiratory tract Sms, myalgias, Drr
& lost smell/taste sensation, can
be also observed.
There’re no specific clinical manifestation that can yet reliably distinguish COVID-19 from other viral respiratory diseases, although the rapid evolution of
SOB several
days after disease onset is highly suggestive of COVID-19
diagnosis. However, the evolution of ARDS
is the most serious sequela in ptns with intense infection that can be manifested
shortly after the onset of SOB. In
addition, a variety of other complications have been also observed, including thrombo-embolic events, acute cardiac injury, AKI, and other inflammatory
sequelae.
Whatever the age of
the ptn, he/she can acquire SARS-CoV-2
disease, despite middle aged adults and elderly are mostly affected, moreover,
elderly ptns are more vulnerable to a severe form for the disease. However, severe illness can
be also seen with medical co-morbidity and other specific lab alterations.The
possibility of COVID-19 should be
considered primarily in ptns with compatible Sms, particularly fever and/or
respiratory Sms, who has residence in or hv traveled to areas with possible community transmission
or hv had a recent close exposure with a confirmed/suspected case of COVID-19.
Treating clinician should be aware of the possibility of COVID-19 in ptns with severe respiratory disease when no other possible etiology can be recognized. Whenever possible, all symptomatizing ptns with suspected SARS-CoV-2 disease should proceed to a confirmatory testing. COVID-19 testing is now widely available. With suspicion of COVID-19, infection measures control should be rapidly implemented.
Interim guidance has
been provided by the WHO and by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in
addition to other expert organizations.
REFERENCES
v World Health Organization. Director-General's remarks
at the media briefing on 2019-nCoV on 11 February 2020. http://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-2019-ncov-on-11-february-2020
(Accessed on February 12, 2020).
v Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019
Novel coronavirus, Wuhan, China. Information for Healthcare Professionals.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html (Accessed on February
14, 2020).
v World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus
(2019-nCoV) technical guidance.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
(Accessed on February 14, 2020).
v World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) Situation Report – 28.
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200217-sitrep-28-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=a19cf2ad_2
(Accessed on February 18, 2020).
COMMENTS