COVID-19 (RESP) Flashcards
What is COVID-19?
A potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
How does COVID-19 transmission occur?
Primarily via respiratory droplets
How long is the average incubation period for COVID-19?
5 days
What are the clinical features of COVID-19? (8)
- fever
- cough
- dyspnoea
- altered sense of smell/taste
- headache
- sore throat
- nasal congestion/rhinorrhoea
- fatigue
What are the first-line investigations for COVID-19? (4)
- real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) - isolated from a nasopharyngeal swab
- rapid antigen test
- pulse oximetry
- CXR - if suspected pneumonia
What are some differential diagnoses for COVID-19? (10)
- community-acquired pneumonia
- influenza
- common cold
- RSV virus in children <5
- aspiration pneumonia (clinically indistinguishable, RT-PCR negative for SARS-CoV-2)
- pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (immunocompromised)
- Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
- avian influenza A (H7N9) - contact with infected birds
- pulmonary TB (night sweats, weight loss)
- febrile neutropenia
What is the management plan for mild-to-moderate COVID-19? (3 + 3)
- isolation + monitoring
- symptom management and supportive care
- antipyretic/analgesic
- (antimicrobials)
- (antiviral - nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, molnupiravir, remdesivir)
- (monoclonal antibody)
What is the management plan for severe COVID-19? (4 + 5)
- hospital admission
- oxygen therapy
- venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis
- symptom management and prophylactic care
- (antimicrobials)
- (corticosteroid - dexamethasone)
- (antiviral - remdesivir)
- (IL-6 inhibitor - tocilizumab / sarilumab)
- (JAK inhibitor - baricitinib)
What is the management plan for critical COVID-19? (10)
- intensive/critical care unit admission
- VTE prophylaxis
- high-flow nasal oxygen / NIV
- invasive mechanical ventilation
- inhaled pulmonary vasodilator
- ECMO
- corticosteroid (dexamethasone)
- antiviral (remdesivir)
- IL-6 inhibitor - tocilizumab / sarilumab
- JAK inhibitor - baricitinib
What are some complications of COVID-19? (10)
- post-intensive care syndrome
- thrombosis
- cardiovascular complications
- AKI
- long COVID
- myocarditis/pericarditis (post vaccination)
- acute liver injury
- neurological complications
- cardiac arrest
- pregnancy-related complications
What is the leading cause of death from COVID-19?
Leading cause of death is respiratory failure from ARDS
