SARS-CoV-2 has been described as the causative agent of respiratory infections of varying severity. To cover the entire spectrum of disease courses, the term coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has been coined. More severe infections of the lungs are also referred to as Severe Specific Contagious Pneumonia (SSCP) [1].

Fever above 39 °C, fatigue, and dry cough have been named as the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients and are displayed by 60-100% of affected individuals [2] [3] [4]. Minor shares of patients present with dyspnea, productive cough, hemoptysis, myalgia, headache, sore throat, and rhinorrhea. Chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea have occasionally been observed. Interestingly, confusion can be noted in about 1 in 10 patients [2]. Recently, loss of smell and taste were also described as symptoms. Whereas mild infections may be self-limiting with a few days [5], the illness may evolve over a week or longer and give rise to severe disease with acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock. These patients are worsening rapidly and at high risk of death from multiorgan failure.

Diagnostic imaging is likely to show inflammatory changes in the lower respiratory tract that allow for the diagnosis of pneumonia, with bilateral findings being very common [3] [4]. Ground-glass and consolidative opacities are frequently observed, while lung cavitation, discrete pulmonary nodules, pleural effusions, and lymphadenopathy are not characteristic of COVID-19 [6]. Of note, the absence of pathological findings on chest images does not rule out an infection with SARS-CoV-2. Neutrophilia and lymphopenia have been found in about a third of COVID-19 patients [2] [4].

• Fever

  A woman in her 40s, in Japan: Day #1: low-grade fever Day #2: 38° fever Day #6: being treated at home. [worldometers.info]

  Treated with antibiotics and was feeling better 2 days later with no fever. 20 Extubation History 73 year old male with aorta insufficiency and pacemaker was admitted to the hospital with fever and coughing after being in an area with Corona. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  What is commonly observed is that patients suffering from coronavirus have high-grade fever while those with common flu suffer from mostly cough and low-grade fever. [ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com]

  slight body aches, mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, malaise). [healthline.com]

  There are two symptoms that the majority of people who contract coronavirus get: a fever and a dry cough. Other symptoms that some people get are extreme fatigue, mucus and a shortage of breath. [lbc.co.uk]

• Fatigue

  If you have coronavirus, you are likely to have a fever, dry cough and feeling very fatigued. If you have a cold, you are likely to sneeze, have a runny or blocked nose and a sore throat. [lbc.co.uk]

  The following are symptoms of the flu. fever, or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than [wowt.com]

  Advertisement Influenza causes aches, fatigue, headache and chills, which appear less common with the coronavirus. INCUBATION Influenza symptoms tend to be abrupt and worsen in a day or two. [nation.co.ke]

  The persisting symptoms resemble chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). [msdmanuals.com]

• Weakness

  […] evidence) suggest against using gelatins (SCCM Weak recommendation, Low-quality evidence) dextrans (SCCM Weak recommendation, Low-quality evidence) albumin for routine use in initial resuscitation (SCCM Weak recommendation, Moderate-quality evidence) [dynamed.com]

  We need to come together to strengthen the immediate health response, particularly where health systems are weak. And we must sustain life-saving help to millions of internally displaced people and refugees already living in overcrowded settlements. [undp.org]

  This intends to boost public health emergency preparedness and response work in countries with weak health systems and limited resilience. [meusac.gov.mt]

  Regarding downside risks, sharp downward price movements in goods and equity markets would generate liquidity stress and credit events, unearthing fundamental weaknesses in the global economy just like in 2008-2009, including substantial stress on the [allianz.com]

• Chills

  He had chills and also sick with fever since March 3. Thinking bad about his flu-like symptoms, he sought medical attention and samples were immediately collected for testing by the hospital. [mindanaodailynews.com]

  The following are symptoms of the flu. fever, or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than [wowt.com]

  At the time of writing, Lustig’s husband (referred to as “T”) had been experiencing symptoms of the virus for 12 days, including chills, aches, a fever, and a bloody cough. [theverge.com]

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  Fever: 87.9% of cases Dry cough: 67.7% Fatigue: 38.1% Mucus/sputum production: 33.4% Shortness of breath: 18.6% Sore throat: 13.9% Headache: 13.6%) Muscle or joint pain (myalgia): 14.8% Chills: 11.4% Nausea or vomiting: 5.0% Nasal congestion: 4.8% Diarrhea [lbc.co.uk]

• High Fever

  […] and hemoptoe History 58 year old male with mild mitral and aortic insufficiency presented with high fever and coughing for 10 days with exhaustion. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  If you have acute health problems, high fever above 38 degrees Celsius, cough, you are mental, etc., and have stayed in coronavirus-affected countries for the past 14 days, DO NOT VISIT A HOSPITAL BUT CONTACT YOUR PRACTICAL DOCTOR OR EPIDEMIOLOGIST OF [vfn.cz]

  Photo shows one of the two new thermal scanners at NAIA Terminal 1, which is used to detect arriving passengers with high fever. [canadianinquirer.net]

  He said that infection can go down into the trachea causing pneumonia is correct, as is the post’s statement that with pneumonia comes high fever and difficulty in breathing. [aap.com.au]

  It has been reported that a UP constituent nursing a high fever was screened yesterday at the University Health Service (UHS) holding area and has since been sent to another hospital for testing. [upd.edu.ph]

• Cough

  The main difference is believed to be the type of cough you have. Picture: Getty What are the differences between a cold or cough and the coronavirus? The main difference is believed to be the type of cough you have. [heart.co.uk]

  Symptoms can include: Fever Cough Shortness of breath Symptoms of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [1] Typical Symptoms COVID-19 typically causes flu-like symptoms including a fever and cough [worldometers.info]

  You should seek medical care early if you or your child has a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. [unicef.org]

  No coughing. CT findings Multifocal consilidations with halo sign CORADS 3 equivocal COVID-19 PCR Negative. RSV positive 30 CORADS 5 subpleural bands History 79 year old male presented with one week dyspnoe and non productive coughing. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  […] means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual) To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. [nhs.uk]

• Pneumonia

  Pneumonia has been a leading cause of death in Japan, notably because aspiration pneumonia is increasingly common in elderly people. As of 2014, the over-65s have been eligible for free, but non-mandatory vaccination against one form of pneumonia. [asiatimes.com]

  Symptoms have included: fever cough difficulty breathing pneumonia in both lungs In severe cases, infection can lead to death. [worldometers.info]

  Pneumonia associated with the disease, like other forms of viral pneumonia including that caused by SARS, produces shadows that radiologists call ground glass opacity. [wired.com]

  Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia. [garda.com]

• Sneezing

  The use of a mask alone is not enough to stop infections and must be combined with frequent hand washing, covering sneezes and coughs, and avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms (coughing, sneezing, fever). [unicef.org]

  Maintain hygiene around sneezing and coughing. Cough or sneeze into a tissue (which is then disposed of immediately in separated waste) or into your elbow. [ktn.gv.at]

  The Guardian reports that, while the exact way Covid-19 spreads is still unknown, 'similar viruses tend to spread via cough and sneeze droplets'. [timeout.com]

  Covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throwing the tissue in a bin. Wash your hands after sneezing or coughing. If a disposable tissue is not available, cough or sneeze to your elbow. Never sneeze or cough to your hands or to open air. [unl.pt]

• Dry Cough

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  There are two symptoms that the majority of people who contract coronavirus get: a fever and a dry cough. Other symptoms that some people get are extreme fatigue, mucus and a shortage of breath. [lbc.co.uk]

  But, Javaid says, a dry cough doesn’t necessarily mean you have coronavirus — and even if you do, your odds of getting better are very high. “A dry cough in itself can happen for hundreds of different reasons.” [nypost.com]

  […] fever, fatigue and dry cough. [diseasefix.com]

• Sore Throat

  Notably, the COVID-19 infection rarely seems to cause a runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat (these symptoms have been observed in only about 5% of patients). Sore throat, sneezing, and stuffy nose are most often signs of a cold. [worldometers.info]

  What about a sore throat? If someone only has a sore throat, then it cannot be a symptom of coronavirus. One can have sore throat by drinking contaminated water. [ndtv.com]

  Symptoms include: fever coughing sore throat fatigue shortness of breath If you are sick and think you might have COVID-19, check your symptoms using healthdirect's Coronavirus (COVID-19) Symptom Checker. [health.gov.au]

• Diarrhea

  The following are symptoms of the flu. fever, or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than [wowt.com]

  A very small percentage of patients experienced diarrhea and nausea two or three days before developing fever and difficulty breathing. People who experience any of these symptoms are advised to stay at home and observe. [news.abs-cbn.com]

  Source: Jojo Photos/Shutterstock Diarrhea is a rare symptom of COVID-19, but gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea and diarrhea could be early clues of infection, a growing body of preliminary research has found. [businessinsider.de]

  Please call the clinic you have the appointment with and share information about your symptoms (including any new fever, respiratory symptoms, new rash, vomiting or diarrhea) and recent travel history. [bcchildrens.ca]

  Researchers found one-third of COVID-19 patients reported symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Stanford launched an operation to screen employees for the coronavirus and advise them on staying safe during the pandemic. [med.stanford.edu]

• Vomiting

  The following are symptoms of the flu. fever, or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than [wowt.com]

  […] the vomit Has diarrhea and vomiting and is not producing tears, and has not urinated for several hours Has a high fever, appears very sleepy, and has not improved with acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). [bcchildrens.ca]

  “If you have flu, but your energy levels have not dropped considerably, have enough appetite and no nausea or vomiting, you should stay at home and take rest. [ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com]

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  Fever: 87.9% of cases Dry cough: 67.7% Fatigue: 38.1% Mucus/sputum production: 33.4% Shortness of breath: 18.6% Sore throat: 13.9% Headache: 13.6%) Muscle or joint pain (myalgia): 14.8% Chills: 11.4% Nausea or vomiting: 5.0% Nasal congestion: 4.8% Diarrhea [lbc.co.uk]

• Nausea

  A very small percentage of patients experienced diarrhea and nausea two or three days before developing fever and difficulty breathing. People who experience any of these symptoms are advised to stay at home and observe. [news.abs-cbn.com]

  A January study from researchers in Beijing and Shanghai identified the coronavirus in stool samples from patients with diarrhoea and nausea. [sciencealert.com]

  […] difference between the three: Allergy symptoms The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that the following are symptoms of allergies. runny nose, stuffy nose, and sneezing wheezing, shortness of breath cough rashes fatigue headache nausea [wowt.com]

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  Researchers found one-third of COVID-19 patients reported symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Stanford launched an operation to screen employees for the coronavirus and advise them on staying safe during the pandemic. [med.stanford.edu]

• Abdominal Pain

  These patients probably have more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder cases. Only a small fraction die: The current fatality rate hovers around 2%. [businessinsider.de]

  Other symptoms, including headache, sore throat, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, have been reported, but are less common. [nation.co.ke]

  DAY 10 Worsening symptoms such as abdominal pain and anorexia or lack of appetite by Day 10 often result in the patient being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the hospital. [news.abs-cbn.com]

  pain on Feb. 28 and was admitted to hospital the same day [source] • 1 new case in Algeria: an Algerian national who has stayed in Spain [source] • 7 new cases in Portugal: - 3 latest: a 18-year-old woman, a pharmacy student, and two men, 37 and 52 years [crofsblogs.typepad.com]

  Early symptoms could also include diarrhoea The new study also found that patients who ended up in the ICU had more abdominal pain and appetite loss than patients with milder coronavirus cases. [sciencealert.com]

• Loss of Appetite

  Researchers found one-third of COVID-19 patients reported symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and diarrhea. Stanford launched an operation to screen employees for the coronavirus and advise them on staying safe during the pandemic. [med.stanford.edu]

  “If it’s a virus you may have sudden loss of appetite, headache, fever, sore throat, colored mucus, body aches and pains. Also, if you take an antihistamine you won’t get much relief.” [today.com]

  Common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of smell, and body ache. [health.harvard.edu]

  According to the NHS, signs of flu include: A sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above An aching body Feeling tired or exhausted A dry cough A sore throat A headache Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Diarrhoea or tummy pain Feeling sick and being [thesun.co.uk]

• Dysgeusia

  In a statement on their website, they said symptoms of anosmia, or lack of sense of smell, and dysgeusia, or lack of taste, should be used to identify possible Covid-19 infections. [edition.cnn.com]

  Loss of smell (anosmia) and loss of taste (dysgeusia) are also commonly reported. Sore throat, nasal congestion, and rhinorrhea are less common. Some individuals remain afebrile. [msdmanuals.com]

  Retrieved 21 March 2020. ^ a b "Loss of sense of smell as marker of COVID-19 infection". ^ a b "Anosmia, Hyposmia, and Dysgeusia Symptoms of Coronavirus Disease". American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and neck surgery. 22 March 2020. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Hypertension

  Out of total 35 deaths, 79% are male, ranging between 34 and 88 years of age with a median age of 66. 90% of deaths had either one or several known co-morbidities including diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension. [reliefweb.int]

  In patients with MERS-CoV infection and severe symptoms, 50% had hypertension and diabetes and up to 30% had heart disease. [nature.com]

  He had a past medical history of hypertension for 20 years, which had been adequately managed. Nine days after lung surgery, he developed a fever with dry cough, chest tightness, and muscle pain. [ascopost.com]

  He had pre-existing hypertension and diabetes mellitus. His official cause of death was ARDS secondary to COVID-19 and pneumonia. [rappler.com]

  The ninth case is of an 86-year-old American male who has pre-existing hypertension and traveled to the US and South Korea. He started to show symptoms on March 1. [cosmo.ph]

• Chest Pain

  R CT findings Bilateral GGO subpleural bands CORADS 5 very likely COVID-19 PCR positive 31 Chest pain and low body temperature History 63 year old female presented with dyspnoe and chest pain since one day. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia. [garda.com]

• Conjunctival Injection

  A study in England included 58 patients with MIS-C and found that all the children presented with fever and nonspecific symptoms which included abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, and conjunctival injection, each occurring in about 50% of patients [msdmanuals.com]

• Redness of Eye

  Measles typically begins with a fever, followed by cough, runny nose, and/or red, watery eyes. [gachd.org]

• Eye Pain

  Symptoms and signs of enterovirus infection include hypoxia, eye pain, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever. [medicinenet.com]

• Myalgia

  COVID-19 is diagnosed on the presence of pneumonia symptoms (e.g., dry cough, fatigue, myalgia, fever, dyspnea), as well as recent travel to China or known exposure, and chest imaging plays a vital role in both assessment of disease extent and follow-up [sciencedaily.com]

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  Fever: 87.9% of cases Dry cough: 67.7% Fatigue: 38.1% Mucus/sputum production: 33.4% Shortness of breath: 18.6% Sore throat: 13.9% Headache: 13.6%) Muscle or joint pain (myalgia): 14.8% Chills: 11.4% Nausea or vomiting: 5.0% Nasal congestion: 4.8% Diarrhea [lbc.co.uk]

  They should check their temperature twice daily and remain alert for symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, myalgias, malaise)*. [cdc.gov]

  Common symptoms at the onset of illness included fever (98% of cases), cough (76%), myalgia or fatigue (44%). Less common symptoms that were recorded included sputum production (28%), headache (8%), hemoptysis (5%) and diarrhea (3%). [contagionlive.com]

• Arthralgia

  Two thirds of people with COVID-19 get a dry cough as a symptom, as well as the following symptoms: Fever Fatigue Dry cough Sputum production Shortness of breath Sore throat Headache Myalgia or arthralgia Chills Nausea and vomiting Nasal conjestion Diarrhoea [heart.co.uk]

  Other symptoms recorded were shortness of breath (18.6%), sore throat (13.9%), headache (13.6%), myalgia or arthralgia or joint and muscle pain (14.8%), chills (11.4%), nausea or vomiting (5%), nasal congestion (4.8%), diarrhea (3.7%), hemoptysis or coughing [news.abs-cbn.com]

  Symptoms and signs are non-specific 68: Common: fever (85-90%) cough (65-70%) fatigue (35-40%) sputum production (30-35%) shortness of breath (15-20%) Less common: myalgia/arthralgia (10-15%) headaches (10-15%) sore throat (10-15%) chills (10-12%) pleuritic [radiopaedia.org]

• Skin Rash

  Less common symptoms include aches and pains, headache, sore throat, red or irritated eyes, diarrhoea, a skin rash or discolouration of fingers or toes. Stay home and self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset, plus three days after symptoms cease. [who.int]

  "Omicron symptoms: Three distinctive rashes to watch for". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. [en.wikipedia.org]

• Erythema

  […] followed by 1.2 grams PO q8hr (or 8 mg/kg IV q8hr) for 14 days. contraindications/cautions regarding Lopinavir/Ritonavir: Serious adverse effects may include: Hypersensitivity reaction, angioedema Stevens-Johnson syndrome / Toxic epidermal necrolysis / Erythema [emcrit.org]

  […] had radiologic features of pneumonia without symptoms) upper respiratory tract infection in 19.3% (33 children) asymptomatic infection without radiologic features of pneumonia in 15.8% (27 children) clinical features included cough in 48.5% pharyngeal erythema [dynamed.com]

• Headache

  The following are symptoms of the flu. fever, or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than [wowt.com]

  If you have fly, you are likely to have a fever, fatigue, headache, a cough and aches and pains. Who is most at risk from dying from coronavirus? The majority of people who contract coronavirus make a full recovery. [lbc.co.uk]

  Other symptoms, including headache, sore throat, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, have been reported, but are less common. [nation.co.ke]

  slight body aches, mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, malaise). [healthline.com]

  ({Percent Headache}%) and weakness ({Percent Weakness}%). [health-infobase.canada.ca]

• Dizziness

  Finally, symptomatic treatment is not exempt from adverse effects, and may be a cause of iatrogenic consequences (i.e., ill effects caused by the treatment itself), such as allergic reactions, stomach bleeding, central nervous system effects (nausea, dizziness [en.wikipedia.org]

  I also had a vice-like headache, muscular chest pain from coughing, rigours and, when I did get out of bed, dizziness. [pulsetoday.co.uk]

  On the day of admission she had a dry cough and complained of dizziness. The O2-saturation was low. The PCR-test was not known and a CT was performed for triage. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  Specific neurological symptoms seen in people with COVID-19 include loss of smell, inability to taste, muscle weakness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, dizziness, confusion, delirium, seizures, and stroke. [health.harvard.edu]

  The course of the illness varies from one person to another, but other symptoms include headaches, dizziness and confusion, diarrhoea, difficulty walking, nausea or vomiting, as well as loss of appetite. [dailymail.co.uk]

• Lethargy

  Japan's official guidance has been to encourage people to self-isolate if they suspect they have related symptoms: 37.5°C (99.5°F) or higher fever lasting for 4 or more days, Cold symptoms Severe lethargy Breathing difficulties. [en.japantravel.com]

  Read More Daily Health Tips Stay hydrated to stay active Dehydration can cause lethargy and create hurdles in doing daily tasks. Dehydration has also been shown to decrease alertness and concentration. [hospitals.aku.edu]

  […] addition to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, the CDC lists emergency warning signs for Covid-19 as a "persistent pain or pressure in the chest," "bluish lips or face" -- which indicates a lack of oxygen -- and any sudden mental confusion or lethargy [edition.cnn.com]

  Other less common (<10%) symptoms in children included diarrhea, lethargy, rhinorrhea and vomiting 91. [radiopaedia.org]

  Based on clinical presentation, consider the need for higher level of care based on standard criteria for community-acquired pneumonia or bronchitis (e.g., hypoxia, tachypnea, lethargy). [pinalcountyaz.gov]

• Altered Mental Status

  A nationwide study in the UK found COVID-19 patients diagnosed with altered mental status, new-onset psychosis, neurocognitive (dementia-like) impairment, and an affective disorder (11). [msdmanuals.com]

  Symptoms and signs include fever, headache, coughing, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, bloody vomit, and possible altered mental status. Treatment usually involves debridement of infected tissue and antifungal drugs. [medicinenet.com]

  These signs and symptoms include respiratory manifestations such as severe dyspnea and hypoxemia, renal impairment with reduced urine output, tachycardia, altered mental status, and functional alterations of organs expressed as laboratory data of hyperbilirubinemia [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Insomnia

  […] businesses with “injury, damage, and loss related to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus,” including “discernible physical manifestations and injuries of trauma from the negligent conduct, including, but not limited, to physical pains, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia [law.com]

  When stewed with snake meat, it is said to cure insomnia. [nytimes.com]

  […] necrolysis / Erythema multiforme QT prolongation & Torsade de Pointes AV block, PR prolongation Hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia Renal failure Anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia Pancreatitis Hepatotoxicity Common adverse reactions: Nausea/vomiting, diarrhea Insomnia [emcrit.org]

Precise criteria on whom to test for COVID-19 have been published by the WHO and the US American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They differ slightly and are prone to change as new data on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 outside the Hubei province, China, and possible routes of transmission become available [7] [8]. Beyond that, the WHO has prepared interim guidance for the laboratory diagnosis of 2019-nCoV infections and provides a list of institutions that may be contacted to this end [9]. They developed a series of genetic amplification assays, specifically real-time RT-PCR protocols, to confirm the presence of 2019-nCoV in respiratory samples [10] [11]. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs may be used as well as sputum, endotracheal aspirate or bronchoalveolar lavage. No recommendations have yet been given as to the preference of upper or lower respiratory specimens for virus detection in mild cases, although the use of lower respiratory material is strongly encouraged in severe and progressive disease.

Additionally, paired serum samples may be obtained from patients suspicious for SARS-CoV-2 infection [9]. They should be collected during the first week of illness as well as 2-3 weeks later and may allow for a more reliable diagnosis of mild infections once serological assays become available.

Of note, testing for SARS-CoV-2 should be carried out regardless of whether a conventional respiratory pathogen is found. Little is known about the prevalence of coinfections among COVID-19 patients and the presence of other pathogens does not rule out an infection with SARS-CoV-2 [9].

Any suspected and confirmed cases must immediately be reported to the relevant public health authorities. The same applies if unexpected results are obtained. In this context, it shall be emphasized that validation is still in progress for all test protocols published so far.

• Bilateral Pulmonary Infiltrates

  pulmonary infiltration in 83% vs. 72% (p = 0.09) outcomes sepsis in 100% vs. 42% respiratory failure in 98% vs. 36% acute respiratory distress syndrome in 93% vs. 7% septic shock in 70% vs. 0% acute cardiac injury in 59% vs. 1% acute kidney injury in [dynamed.com]

• Ground Glass Appearance

  A scan of the lungs of a patient infected by the Wuhan coronavirus shows a characteristic "ground glass" appearance. [technologyreview.com]

• Lymphopenia

  In 63% of the patients, lymphopenia was observed. Abnormal findings on chest CTs were observed for all 41 patients. [contagionlive.com]

  Symptoms are non-specific: fever myalgia malaise non-productive cough pleuritic pain dyspnea Laboratory tests The most common findings in a study of 138 hospitalized patients were 13: lymphopenia increased prothrombin time (PT) increased lactate dehydrogenase [radiopaedia.org]

  She was tachypneic (30bpm), with lymphopenia and low oxygen saturation (SpO2 85%). Patient presented to the emergency department two days earlier with fever (up to 38.6ºC), dry cough, odynophagia and general malaise. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  […] in 55% myalgia or fatigue in 44% sputum production in 28% headache in 8% hemoptysis in 5% diarrhea in 3% bilateral multiple lobular and subsegmental areas of consolidation were common findings on chest computed tomography laboratory testing revealed lymphopenia [dynamed.com]

  Neutrophilia and lymphopenia have been found in about a third of COVID-19 patients. Precise criteria on whom to test for COVID-19 have been published by the WHO and the US American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [symptoma.com]

• Leukopenia

  Leukopenia was seen in ~70%. Thirty-six patients (26.1%) were transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (22 [61.1%]), arrhythmia (16 [44.4%]), and shock (11 [30.6%]). [hopkinsguides.com]

  […] bilateral multiple lobular and subsegmental areas of consolidation were common findings on chest computed tomography laboratory testing revealed lymphopenia (lymphocyte count < 1 × 109 cells/L) in 63% elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels in 37% leukopenia [dynamed.com]

  Laboratory evaluation shows frequent occurrence of anemia (45%), leukopenia (40%), and hyperbilirubinemia (100%). Young et al. 3/3/2020 Cohort study describing 16 COVID-19 patients in Singapore. [emcrit.org]

• Neutrophilia

  Neutrophilia and lymphopenia have been found in about a third of COVID-19 patients. Precise criteria on whom to test for COVID-19 have been published by the WHO and the US American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [symptoma.com]

  […] and computed tomography findings bilateral pneumonia in 75% multiple mottling and ground-glass opacity in 14% pneumothorax in 1% laboratory testing revealed increased lactate dehydrogenase (> 250 units/L) in 76% decreased hemoglobin (< 130 g/L) in 51% neutrophilia [dynamed.com]

  Hematological aberrations delineated for the clinical cases of neutrophilia (8%), lymphopenia (34%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and lymphocytosis (11%). [frontiersin.org]

• Hypercapnia

  The safe extent of permissive hypercapnia is unknown, but as long as hemodynamics are adequate a pH of >7.1 or >7.15 may be tolerable (hypercapnia is preferred over lung-injurious ventilation). [emcrit.org]

  Hypercapnia (elevated blood CO2) is rare in these patients, which may explain why patients with COVID-19 may not complain of shortness of breath until their pulmonary disease is far advanced and hypoxia is severe. [msdmanuals.com]

• Lymphocytosis

  Hematological aberrations delineated for the clinical cases of neutrophilia (8%), lymphopenia (34%), thrombocytopenia (36%), and lymphocytosis (11%). [frontiersin.org]

• Lymphadenopathy

  "To our knowledge," Hosseiny et al. continued, "pleural effusion, cavitation, pulmonary nodules, and lymphadenopathy have not been reported in patients with COVID-19." [sciencedaily.com]

  Chest CT showed no signs of pleural effusion and lymphadenopathy. A, Female, 14 years old. Chest CT showed scattered ground‐glass opacities in the inferior lobe of the right lung, located subpleural or extended from subpleural lesions. [onlinelibrary.wiley.com]

  Pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, lymphadenopathy, cavitation, CT halo sign, and pneumothorax are some of the uncommon but possible findings seen with disease progression. [radiologyassistant.nl]

  Ground-glass and consolidative opacities are frequently observed, while lung cavitation, discrete pulmonary nodules, pleural effusions, and lymphadenopathy are not characteristic of COVID-19. [symptoma.com]

• Leukocytosis

  25, 2020 laboratory testing revealed increased lactate dehydrogenase (> 250 units/L) in 76% decreased hemoglobin (< 130 g/L) in 51% neutrophilia (neutrophil count > 6.3 × 109 cells/L) in 38% lymphopenia (lymphocyte count < 1.1 × 109 cells/L) in 35% leukocytosis [dynamed.com]

No specific treatment directed against the causative agent is currently available. COVID-19 patients have been administered antivirals like oseltamivir, ganciclovir, lopinavir, and ritonavir, both intravenously and orally [2], but data regarding the efficacy of such measures are not yet available. Experiences from prior outbreaks of coronavirus-induced respiratory diseases are rather discouraging: No antiviral agents have been found to provide benefit for treating the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) [4].

Notwithstanding, patients benefit from meticulous supportive care and the treatment of comorbidities [2] [4]:

• Oxygen therapy is most commonly applied to improve lung function; mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may become necessary.
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics and possibly antimycotics are administered to prevent and manage coinfections.
• Corticosteroids have been applied. They may reduce pulmonary inflammation and prevent respiratory failure, but also affect many other physiological and pathological processes.
• Furthermore, any deterioration in organ function, such as acute kidney injury, requires urgent attention and targeted measures.

Clinical and epidemiological data gathered to date suggest a higher risk of severe disease in the elderly, particularly in those with comorbidities [4]. The mortality rate of SSCP is currently estimated at 2-5% [1], but the overall share of SSCP in COVID-19 remains to be determined.

With regard to any patient's individual prognosis, Chen et al. stated that the characteristics of those who experienced poor outcomes were in line with the MuLBSTA score, an early warning model for predicting mortality in viral pneumonia [2]. This model considers the presence of multilobular infiltrates, low lymphocyte counts, bacterial coinfections, a personal history of smoking, hypertension, and advanced age as unfavorable prognostic factors [12].

Lu and colleagues realized an in-depth characterization of SARS-CoV-2 and provided the full-length genome sequence of the pathogen [13]. According to their phylogenetic analyses, SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the genus of betacoronaviruses and the subgenus of sarbecoviruses. Another well-known sarbecovirus is SARS-CoV, which caused the pandemic of SARS between 2002 and 2004. Owing to their relatively close relationship, SARS-CoV-2 has been proposed by the Coronavirus Study Group of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses the appropriate designation for the pathogen causing COVID-19 [14].

Interestingly, SARS-CoV-2 has been found to be even more closely related to two bat-derived SARS-like coronaviruses than to the causative agent of SARS [13]. Are we thus talking about a zoonotic disease? COVID-19 has, in fact, been described as a potential zoonosis [1], but an Italian-Brazilian study on the virus' evolution suggests the existence of an intermediate carrier: Benvenuto et al. have proposed that the virus has initially been harbored by bats but been transmitted to another, as-of-yet unknown animal species before infecting men [15]. Presumably, an animal sold at the seafood market in Wuhan, China, served as an intermediate host facilitating the emergence of the virus in humans [13]. Parallels can be drawn to prior coronavirus outbreaks, namely the aforementioned pandemic of SARS and the outbreak of MERS that started in 2012. Bats have been identified as the natural reservoir for both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, while other animals, namely the masked palm civet and dromedary camels, acted as intermediate hosts [16] [17].

While SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the Chinese metropole Wuhan, travelers rapidly carried the virus across the country and beyond its borders, triggering secondary chains of transmission in a wider geographical area. On January 13, 2020, Thai authorities confirmed the first case outside China.

The current number of infections globally according to the Situation Report published by the WHO on March 17, 2022 is 460 280 168 [18].

Affected patients must promptly be identified to prevent any further spread of the disease. A coordinated international response is required to address this situation and to diminish the public health risk posed by SARS-CoV-2, which is why the WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020.

Transmission occurs from person to person, through droplets or by physical contact between two individuals [1]. Fomites may play a role in COVID-19 spread, too [18]. The incubation period may be as short as two days or extend over two weeks, and the possibility that the virus may be transmitted to others before symptoms develop should seriously be considered. While the infection from an asymptomatic contact has been reported in Germany, the respective case study was updated when new information became available that invalidated the original conclusions [5]. Thus, to date, there is no evidence that patients are contagious before presenting any symptoms. It is also not known for how long the virus may be spread by someone who has recovered from their illness.

In order to prevent COVID-19, the basic principles to reduce the risk of contracting and transmitting acute respiratory infections apply. These principles include regular handwashing with soap, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment, and the avoidance of close contact with those showing symptoms of respiratory disease. On the other side, people suffering from respiratory symptoms are encouraged to maintain their distance, to cover coughs and sneezes, and to take their personal hygiene seriously. Medical assistance should be sought early in the case of fever, cough, and possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Unprotected contact with farm and wild animals should generally be minimized. In healthcare settings, infection prevention and control practices should be applied strictly and be enhanced where necessary.

On a larger scale, distinct measures can be taken to reduce the likelihood of pathogen emergence. Live animal markets, such as the seafood market in Wuhan, provide a perfect breeding ground for new infectious diseases: There's close contact between animals and humans and an extensive interchange of genetic material between viruses harbored by either species. These conditions largely increase the probability of human infection and eventual human-to-human transmission, which are two of the prerequisites for pandemics. That is why such animal markets have been subjected to harsh but well-founded criticism for years. It does not at all help the issue that the illicit trade with wild, possibly endangered animals is flourishing in those markets.

COVID-19 is an emergent infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. This pathogen was first identified in the Chinese Hubei province and has subsequently been shown to originate from a live-animal market in the city of Wuhan. The WHO has assessed the current outbreak as a pandemic.

As of today, vaccines against COVID-19 are not available. Intense efforts are made by scientists in distinct countries to change that situation, but vaccines are not expected to be available in at least one more year. This increases the importance of strong measures to detect COVID-19 early, isolate and treat cases, trace contacts, and promote social distancing measures commensurate with the risk.

Much commotion has arisen over the emergence of 2019-nCoV, a new coronavirus causing mild to severe respiratory infections in China and many other countries all over the world. Preventive measures, such as avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness, to seek medical advice in case of flu-like symptoms, and to provide information to health care workers to the best of their knowledge are recommended.

The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is commonly named COVID-19, as in "coronavirus disease 19". Symptoms typically develop within 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, fatigue, and cough. Some patients may also experience muscle aches, headaches, a sore throat or runny nose. While mild infections usually improve within a few days, COVID-19 may follow a severe course and lead to pneumonia, shock, and eventually death.

Because COVID-19 cannot be distinguished clinically from other causes of pneumonia, it is of utmost importance that patients provide precise information on recent travels, hospital stays, and close contact with anyone who may have been exposed. The patient's cooperation is key to counter the COVID-19 outbreak, to shorten the time until diagnosis and measures that prevent the exposure of others. If someone is identified as suspicious for COVID-19, they can be isolated, tested accordingly, and receive supportive care as needed.

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