CVID-19

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious acute respiratory disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus

Question 2

What is the virus called ? What variant is around now?

Answer 2

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2) is the name of the virus

Several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified

The majority of SARS-CoV-2 variants are now extinct, with the current circulating variant of concern being the Omicron variant (and its subvariants)

Question 3

What type of infection can SARS-CoV-2 cause?

Answer 3

• mild common cold-like illness
• severe viral pneumonia leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome= can be fatal

Question 4

Risk factors ?

Answer 4

• contact with probable or confirmed case
• residence/work in location with high risk of transmission
• older age
• male sex

Question 5

Risk factors

Answer 5

• fever
• cough
• dyspnoea
• altered sense of smell/taste
• fatigue
• myalgia or arthralgia
• sore throat
• headache

Question 6

What do pt requiring hospital admission have ?

Answer 6

Patients requiring hospital admission often have:
* hypoxia
* lymphopenia
* bilateral, lower zone changes on CXR

Question 7

Investigations?

Answer 7

• real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
• rapid antigen test
• pulse oximetry
• ABG
• X-ray

Question 8

Management

Answer 8

• Home isolation
• Adequate fluids
• Anti-pyretic and analgesic
• Unwell patients require oxygen
  supplementation, some going on to CPAP or
  invasive ventilation
• Evidence Base e.g. Dexamethasone (and
  consider Tocilizumab +/- Remdesivir)
• Antibiotics may be needed if suspected
  superadded bacterial infection

Question 9

Complications

Answer 9

• multi-organ failure
• septic shock
• venous thromboembolism