Patients with COVID 19 usually have mild, flu-like symptoms, which are rather common and need to be distinguished from similar symptoms caused by common cold viruses and from allergic symptoms during springtime.
Assessment of patients with mild symptoms is challenging.
There are clear case definitions for Covid-19. Depending on the prevalence of disease in the community a history of travel or contact may be required. However once the prevalence in the community increases differentiating these conditions becomes more challenging.
Lung ultrasound can sometimes be used to assess this cohort. Abnormalities on US may occur even in asymptomatic patients.
However this is a challenge.
Article Ultrasound in critical care
Lung ultrasound may be helpful in this distinction.
The understanding of the role of point of care ultrasound in healthcare is exploding. As healthcare systems are overwhelmed it is difficult to perform X-ray, CT, MRI and nuclear medicine. Small handheld portable Ultrasound devices have transformed the bedside assessment and diagnosis of patients with Covid-19. There is a great interest in research in this topic during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Anyone interested in an overview of POCUS may find the brief review above helpful.
Dmitry Nikolaenko can you please stop spamming Covid questions with your preprint, especially when it does not address the question in hand.
If you want to get people involved in your work open your own discussion on Researchgate please.
I agree with Rajkumar Rajendran that assessment of patients with mild symptoms can be challenging & can be difficult with community spread . The clinical spectrum of COVID 19 ranges from asymptomatic to mild or severe disease . When in doubt , it is preferable to test for COVID 19 , either by PCR or Rapid tests . This is necessary as decision regarding home quarantine can be taken , if tests are positive .
As there might have similar symptoms, laboratory tests for COVID-19 would be helpful.