Coronavirus – Do We Know Enough?

Abstract

Abstract: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), previously called as 2019-nCoV, was emerged from Wuhan, China in December 2019. It is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). By 22 March 2020, 323,265 people were infected from this virus, including 13,745 deaths globally. It is declared as pandemic by World Health Organization as it involved 185 countries of the world. World Health Organization also declared it as 6th public health emergency of international concern. COVID-19 presents as various outcomes; asymptomatic (carrier), pneumonia and acute respiratory disease. People of all ages can be affected from this virus but adult population is observed to be involved in high ratio. Additionally, there is possibility that infection can be spread as nosocomial infection to patients and healthcare workers. On chest imaging, ground – glass opacity with bilateral involvement is seen as most common abnormality in patients with pneumonia. Older patients are prone to develop more severe disease as compared to young population. Patients with underlying chronic co-morbidities are also more prone to develop poor outcome. Till now, specific treatment of COVID-19 is not available; however clinical trials are under investigation to see the clinical efficacy of various therapeutic agents in China e.g. remdesivir and chloroquine etc. At this time, standard infection control measures are only possible means for prevention of SARS-CoV-2.