Current Practices and Recommendations for Prioritizing Patients Mimicking Upper Respiratory Tract Symptoms in Period of Covid 19 Pandemic: A Strategic Perspective

Abstract

Upper respiratory tract symptoms can be caused by many diseases like Covid 19 disease, common cold, seasonal flu or allergy. This present a diagnostic dilemma in OPD to clinically identify which patient is suspected of Covid 19 disease and which is not. Which patient needs immediate Covid 19 testing, as not all patients presenting with these symptoms have Covid 19 disease. To develop a criteria which can help clinician in OPD while dealing with cases of upper respiratory tract symptoms and to highlight this grey area which needs further research. 107 patients with upper respiratory tract symptom over a period of 1 month, fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were evaluated and analysed. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I is High suspicion group having 43 cases, Group II Low Suspicion group having 64 cases. In group I there were 29 Covid 19 positive cases (67.44%). In group II there were 3 Covid 19 positive cases (4.6%). By dividing the patients of upper respiratory tract symptoms into three groups (I & II) a system can be made for proper, timely and efficient treatment of such cases.