Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

The coronavirus family has significant human and animal pathogens. At the end of December 2019, a novel coronavirus was recognized as the reason for a group of pneumonia cases of unidentified etiology in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China. The novel coronavirus has rapidly become widespread, resulting in an epidemic throughout China, followed by a pandemia, an increasing number of cases in various countries throughout the world. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spread through large droplets produced during coughing and sneezing by symptomatic patients, as well as asymptomatic individuals before starting of their symptoms. The incubation period of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is assumed to be 14 days succeeding exposure, mostly around four to five days. Individuals of all ages may acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection, although middle age and older individuals are the majority. The usual clinical characteristics involve fever, dry cough, fatigue, sore throat, rhinorrhea, conjunctivitis headache, myalgia, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Hence, there are no unique clinical features that yet dependably differentiate COVID-19 disease from other upper/lower airway viral infections. In a subgroup of cases, by the end of the first week, COVID-19 disease may develop to pneumonia, pulmonary failure and death. The aim is here to discuss the COVID-19 disease beginning from virology, epidemiology and continuing with clinical manifestations, diagnosis, its complications and to finish with available therapeutic options and conclusion.