Published online Nov 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i21.5188
Peer-review started: May 12, 2020
First decision: August 21, 2020
Revised: August 31, 2020
Accepted: September 22, 2020
Article in press: September 22, 2020
Published online: November 6, 2020
Processing time: 177 Days and 22 Hours
In December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated with the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan and spread quickly across China and world. The World Health Organization declared the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic a global health emergency. Other than its rapid transmission, the epidemiological, pathogenesis, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 remain unclear.
By analyzing clinical cases, we summarized the risk factors, clinical manifestations, and curative treatment of COVID-19. More efforts will be needed to study the basic and clinical research related to the infection of SARS-CoV-2.
We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Liaoning province, a Chinese region far north of Wuhan. The research would help provide measures for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and clinical diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19.
The clinical data of 56 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases due to 2019 novel coronavirus infection were collected from eight cities in Liaoning Province. Laboratory diagnosis was performed in the SARS-CoV-2 laboratory of Shenyang Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiological characteristics were analyzed. SPSS (version 26.0) was used for the statistical analysis of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data.
Most patients had resided in or traveled to epidemic area and had contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients. Fever and cough were the most common symptoms. The typical manifestations in lung computed tomography (CT) included bilateral ground-glass opacity and patchy shadows. Severe cases and critical cases were respectively 10 (17.9%) and 1 (1.8%). No deaths were reported.
SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted among humans. This virus strain is highly infectious and more likely to affect males with underlying diseases. Most COVID-19 patients are mild cases or moderate cases. The risk factors for seriousness of the disease included old age, underlying diseases, significant lymphocytopenia, and serious lesions shown in lung computed tomography.
More efforts will be needed to study the infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2, early identification of severe cases, and effective treatments.