- Viral infection that likely started in animals (Bats) and crossed over to humans
- Spread mostly by droplets, when then enter the body when hands touch the mouth, nose, eyes
- Also spread (less commonly) thru aersolization
- Risk factors for severe disease: Age > 60, underlying co-morbid diseases: diabetes, hypertension, chronic lung disease, obesity, other
- Most common symptoms are: cough, fever, and shortness of breath
- Loss of taste and smell
- Fatigue, chills, headache, muscle aches
- Time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically 5d (range 3-14)
- Time from initial symptoms to severe disease (if that's to occur) is 7-8d
- 80% will not require hospitalizaiton
- Of those who require hospitalization, 25% will require ICU care
- Can rapidly progress (ie from minimal O2 requirements to profound hypoxemia) in hours
- High mortality if intubation required (> 50%), and typical ICU stay is 2+ weeks
- Higher risk for venous thromboembolic disease (VTE) and stroke (arterial disease)
- Mild to moderate disease: fever
- Severe disease: fever, tachycardia, tachypnea, hypoexmia; rales
- Nasopharyngeal swab for PCR testing
- Advanced disease with bilateral infiltrates on CXR and CT
- Other markers: lymphopenia, elevated LDH, elevated ferritin, elevated D-Dimer