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- Title
Is the Presence of a Typical Triad of COVID-19 Symptoms (Cough, Dyspnea, and Fever) Enough to Make a Decision About Diagnostic Testing? From the Perspective of an Emergency Department.
- Authors
Keleş, Ayfer; Alkaş, Gülbahar; Kiliçaslan, İsa; Aslaner, Mehmet Ali; Bildik, Fikret; Demircan, Ahmet; Dikmen, Asiye Uğraş; Özge, Hasan Selçuk; Bozdayi, Gülendam; Kiliç, Hüseyin Koray; Karakök, Busegül; Türker, Merve
- Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study is to show the consistence between the recommended guidelines regarding the triad of symptoms cough, dyspnea, and fever and the diagnosis of COVID-19.Methods:A prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary emergency department between April 2, 2020 and May 15, 2020 in Turkey. Detailed patient history, main presenting complaints and imaging findings were recorded. For COVID-19 confirmation, nasopharyngeal RT-PCR was used. The relationship between complaints and COVID-19 test results were analyzed. Results: Of the 1226, suspected COVID-19 patients, 127 were positive, 471 were negative, and 628 were discharged without any tests. The most common presenting complaints of the COVID-19 positive patients were throat pain (25.2%), dyspnea (15%), cough (22%), malaise and fatigue (11.8%), and fever (8.7%). There was no statistically significant difference between the positive and negative test groups as they had fever (χ², p = 0.30), cough (χ², p = 0.67) and dyspnea (χ2, p = 0.14). Conclusion: Considering that it is difficult to diagnose COVID-19 in emergency settings, testing decision and diagnosis should not depend only on classical symptoms; otherwise, patients with atypical and rare symptoms may be missed. Instead, patient history, clinical status, and radiological findings should be considered together.
- Subjects
TURKEY; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; COUGH; HOSPITAL emergency services; FEVER; SYMPTOMS
- Publication
Gazi Medical Journal, 2021, Vol 32, Issue 4, p541
- ISSN
1300-056X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.12996/gmj.2021.122