[Retrospective analysis for first-visiting case data of 272 SARS inpatients in Peking University Third Hospital]

The first-visiting cases of total 272 SARS inpatients admitted in SARS wards in Third Hospital from April 10, 2003 to May 12 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics and diagnostic decision for these patients were described.

The enrollment of inpatients was ruled with two official standards, i.e., 'Clinical Standards for Diagnosis of SARS, Trial Edition' from Health Ministry, and 'Diagnostic Standards for SARS' from Joint Force of Prevention and Therapy for SARS in Beijing, PRC. The present work was based on the first-visiting case records of these SARS inpatients.

The characteristics of gender, age, occupation, contagious history and previous therapy were described in SARS inpatients when they visited the outpatient department for SARS in the first time; the clinical symptoms, physical signs, blood WBC counts and X-ray in lungs were also analyzed. In 272 inpatients who were admitted into SARS wards at their first visiting, 145 patients (53.5%) were finally diagnosed as SARS, well as 97 patients (35.7%) were eliminated.

In the first visiting of the suspectable SARS patients, the contagious history, clinical symptoms, laboratory results and lung X-ray should be studied comprehensively and thoroughly to avoid omitted or mistaken diagnosis. Most final diagnosis came from the revising of the original decision. The advances in SARS virology and immunology may provide more accurate evidences in SARS diagnosis.