Comparative Analysis of Early-Stage Clinical Features Between COVID-19 and Influenza A H1N1 Virus Pneumonia

Abstract

Introduction: Influenza virus pneumonia and COVID-19 are two different types of respiratory viral pneumonia but with very similar clinical manifestations. The aim of the present study was to help clinicians gain a better understanding about differences between Influenza virus pneumonia and COVID-19 by comparative analysis of the early-stage clinical features. Methods: Clinical data of patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and influenza A pneumonia identified in our hospital were collected and analyzed retrospectively to identify the clinical features that could differentiate between the two types of viral pneumonia. Results: The two types of viral pneumonia mainly affected adults, especially people over 50 years, with no gender difference between them. Fever, cough, sputum and muscle soreness were the most common symptoms of COVID-19. Some patients with COVID-19 may also exhibit digestive tract symptoms. Elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) was a more common phenomenon in patients with COVID-19 than that in patients with influenza A H1N1 virus pneumonia. In addition, eosinophil count was decreased and the monocyte percentage was increased in COVID-19 patients. The grid-form shadow was a typical presentation of COVID-19 on the lung CT image, and the disease usually progressed quickly within a week. Conclusion: Influenza pneumonia and COVID-19 are two different types of respiratory viral pneumonia with very similar clinical manifestations. The percentage of monocytes is increased and the eosinophil count is decreased in COVID-19. Glass-ground density exudation shadow located peripherally is the typical sign of COVID-19 on the lung CT image, and the shadow often with grid-form sign. These features may not be typically observed in patients with influenza pneumonia. Chest CT scan combined with nucleic acid detection is an effective and accurate method for diagnosing COVID-19. Blood routine test has a limited diagnostic value in differentiating the two forms of pneumonia.

A Retrospective Study of the C-Reactive Protein to Lymphocyte Ratio and Disease Severity in 108 Patients with Early COVID-19 Pneumonia from January to March 2020 in Wuhan, China

“…Severe cases are prone to various complications and may further increase the chance of human death [ 9 , 10 ]. Shen et al [ 11 ] suggested that patients with COVID-19 were more likely to progress within 1 week. The early definition of COVID-19 was defined as within 7 days of clinical symptoms, and within 7 days of positive viral nucleic acid test for asymptomatic patients [ 12 ].…”

COVID-19 and H1N1 - The two pandemics and their consequences on human life: A Mini-Review

“…influenza virus has its own typical hematological features of leukopenia, relative lymphopenia with rare thrombocytopenia. [18,19] LIMITATIONS This is a very narrow literature review as we just focused on performing a brief comparison of those aspects of the 2 pandemics that were scientifically proven.…”

Comparing COVID-19 and influenza presentation and trajectory

“…The results for of all pairwise group comparisons are provided as supplementary Table S2. For each variable and compared pair, the table provides the time gap for which the stronger difference in rank means slopes was found, either (0-6, 6-24) or (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24), and the difference itself. Figure 4 represents the trends for each of the variables showing a significant effect on diseases trajectories.…”