Sadaya Marianne M, Anuran Geannagail O
Department of Family and Community Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila.
Acta Med Philipp. 2024 Jul 31;58(13):81-86. doi: 10.47895/amp.v58i13.8161. eCollection 2024.
COVID-19 infection can present in various clinical forms. Anosmia has been significantly associated with a positive RT-PCR, but it usually appears after four days and has also been observed among COVID-19 negative patients. Knowledge on the clinical course of COVID-19 can guide decision-making on screening, diagnostic testing, and quarantine/isolation procedures.
To describe the clinical course of healthcare workers (HCWs) with COVID-19-related exposure, symptoms, differential diagnoses, and time to return to work clearance.
This was a cross-sectional study involving HCWs diagnosed as COVID-19 contacts/suspects between April 2020 and April 2021. Information on demographics, time elapsed between clinical events, outcomes, and final diagnoses were collected from hospital records. Categorical data was presented in frequencies and percentages, while numerical data were reported as range and median values.
There were 4755 consultations for COVID-19-related symptoms or exposure that were included in the study. Symptoms developed at a median of one day post-exposure. Consultation was at two days following symptom onset or four days after exposure. RT-PCR was done on the day of consult. Symptoms resolved after a median of six days. Return to work (RTW) was seven days from consult. Common presenting symptoms were respiratory (56.71%) and systemic (34.04%). COVID-19 was positive in 13.79% of consults. Almost all HCWs recovered (99%) as outpatient (88%). Differential diagnoses were usually other respiratory infections (8.60%) and allergic rhinitis (2.37%).
The clinical course for HCWs who consulted for COVID-19-related symptoms or exposure lasted for two weeks from symptom onset or exposure until clearance for work resumption. The most common symptoms were respiratory and systemic in nature. Recovery was noted after six days. The most common alternative diagnoses for COVID-19 negative cases were respiratory infection and allergic rhinitis.
新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）感染可表现为多种临床形式。嗅觉丧失与逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）阳性显著相关，但通常在四天后出现，且在COVID-19阴性患者中也有观察到。了解COVID-19的临床病程可指导筛查、诊断检测和隔离/检疫程序的决策。
描述医护人员（HCWs）与COVID-19相关暴露、症状、鉴别诊断及复工许可时间的临床病程。
这是一项横断面研究，纳入了2020年4月至2021年4月期间被诊断为COVID-19接触者/疑似病例的医护人员。从医院记录中收集人口统计学信息、临床事件之间的时间间隔、结局和最终诊断。分类数据以频率和百分比呈现，数值数据报告为范围和中位数。
本研究纳入了4755例与COVID-19相关症状或暴露的咨询病例。症状在暴露后中位数为1天出现。咨询在症状出现后2天或暴露后4天进行。RT-PCR在咨询当天进行。症状在中位数为6天后缓解。从咨询开始7天后复工。常见的首发症状为呼吸道症状（56.71%）和全身症状（34.04%）。13.79%的咨询病例COVID-19呈阳性。几乎所有医护人员（99%）作为门诊患者康复（88%）。鉴别诊断通常为其他呼吸道感染（8.60%）和过敏性鼻炎（2.37%）。
因与COVID-19相关症状或暴露而咨询的医护人员的临床病程从症状出现或暴露开始，持续两周直至获得复工许可。最常见的症状为呼吸道和全身症状。6天后出现康复。COVID-19阴性病例最常见的替代诊断为呼吸道感染和过敏性鼻炎。
