Summary
Definition
History and exam
Other diagnostic factors
- chills or rigors
- malaise
- headache
- watery diarrhoea
- tachypnoea
- tachycardia
- cyanosis
- nausea and vomiting
- sore throat
- sputum production
- chest pain
- pleurisy
- rhinorrhoea
- dizziness
- arthralgia
- abdominal pain
- seizure
- delirium
- rales
- inspiratory crackles
- bronchial breathing
Risk factors
- travel to affected area
- close contact with infected individuals
- laboratory work on SARS coronavirus (CoV)
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- FBC
- aminotransferases
- lactate dehydrogenase
- creatine kinase
- blood culture
- sputum culture
- nasopharyngeal virus culture
- direct immunofluorescent antibody staining
- CXR
- pulse oximetry
- reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
Investigations to consider
- ABG
- coagulation screen
- high-resolution CT (HRCT) of thorax
- serological testing for SARS coronavirus (CoV)-specific antibodies
- viral culture
Emerging tests
- rapid immunoswab assay for SARS coronavirus (CoV) detection
- monoclonal antibodies
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors

Assistant Professor in Pulmonary Medicine
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Respiratory Failure Unit
General Hospital G. Papanikolaou
Thessaloniki
Greece
Disclosures
GGP declares that she has no competing interests.

Associate Professor in Pulmonary Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Respiratory Medicine Clinic
General Hospital G. Papanikolaou
Thessaloniki
Greece
Disclosures
IPK declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Attending Pathologist
Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx
NY
Disclosures
TRT declares that he has no competing interests.
Director of the School of Public Health
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Prince of Wales Hospital
New Territories
Hong Kong
Disclosures
SG declares that she has no competing interests.
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