COVID-19 Flashcards
What are the most common signs and symptoms of COVID-19?
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Muscle ache
- Confusion
- Headache
- Sore throat
Which three animals are the most likely cause for the origin of COVID?
- Himalayan palm civet
- Pangolin
- Chinese ferret badger
Describe the viral entry of COVID-19
- S protein trimer interacts with ACE 2
- Confirmational change occurs via the action of Furin (protease)
- There is further change which allows for fusion
Describe the structural change in the delta variant
There is enhanced protease cleavage allowing for quicker replication and transmission
What is the incubation period of COVID-19?
5-6 days
What is the incubation period of the delta variant?
Approx. 4 days
What is the period of infectivity of covid?
24-36 hours before symptom onset. Falling off in mid cases to very low after 10 days.
What are the clinical signs of covid?
- Progressive patchy infiltrates on chest x-ray
- Abnormal LFTs, low lymphocytes
- CRP high and D dimer often elevated
- Thrombosis/pulmonary embolism common in sever covid
- Troponin is also commonly raised but tends to be no physiological evidence of myocardial dysfunction
What is the transmission of covid?
- Respiratory droplets from coughing/sneezing (dominant mode)
- Small respiratory particles -aerosols
- Direct contact
- Fomites
- Virus is present in faeces relatively common, urine occasionally (not sure if this is infectious)
What is the main transmission risk factor?
Being indoor over prolonged periods of time
Why is there a low risk of transmission outside?
- UV light inactivates the virus, even with cloud cover
* Good ventilation
What is R0?
The number of cases from 1 case in the susceptible population
What is R?
the number of cases when not all the population is susceptible
What R number is needed for eradication?
R needs to be <1
What are the risk factors for covid?
- Age
- Multi-morbidity including obesity
- Immunosuppression
