COVID-19 (LRTI)

Question 1

what is the cause of COVID-19?

Answer 1

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)

Question 2

how is covid19 spread?

Answer 2

spread airborne by respiratory droplets

Question 3

list the symptoms of COVID-19:

Answer 3

they show up within 2-14 days of exposure to the virus

Dry cough
Shortness of breath
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhoea
Systemic symptoms (Malaise, Fever, Headache)
Hypercoagulability
Fatigue
Delirium

Question 4

What investigations are carried out to diagnose COVID-19?

Answer 4

CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTPA) due to
hypercoagulability

CXR of Severe COVID-19 may show bilateral diffuse opacities

blood tests show raised acute inflammatory markers (e.g. CRP, Ferritin with a normal WCC unless there is a simultaneous bacterial infection

SARS CoV-2 PCR of nasopharyngeal swab

Question 5

what are the mRNA and DNA vaccinations for COVID-19?

Answer 5

mRNA - Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech

DNA - AstraZeneca/Oxford

Question 6

describe the management of mild/moderate COVID-19:

Answer 6

Stay at home and isolate

Usually self-limiting over a week

Supportive therapy (Hydration, Nutrition, Analgesia)

Question 7

describe the management of severe COVID-19:

Answer 7

Oxygen to maintain saturation

Dexamethasone 6 mg

Consider Antibiotics (if Pneumonia) or Remdesivir (if Comorbidities)

Question 8

why is oxygen therapy escalated to non-invasive ventilation?

Answer 8

if there is type 2 respiratory failure on ABGs

Question 9

why is oxygen therapy escalated to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)?

Answer 9

if there is persistent hypoxaemia despite using nasal cannulae and face masks