Clinical features of covid-19

Hussin A. Rothana, Siddappa N. Byrareddy

Clinical features of covid-19

The wide array of symptoms has implications for the testing strategy

Pauline Vetter, Diem Lan Vu, Arnaud G L'Huillier, Manuel Schibler, Laurent Kaiser, Frederique Jacquerioz

BMJ 2020; 369:m1470

ABSTRACT

In severe acute respiratory illness due to COVID-19, symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath comprise the case definition used to select people for viral testing.

This strategy covers the typical symptomatic presentation, but does not identify patients with unusual manifestations, no respiratory symptoms, or only very mild symptoms.

A widely cited modeling study concluded that up to 86% of cases may have been missed in China, and reports of patients with unusual presenting symptoms are increasing worldwide.