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Origin, transmission, diagnosis and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Srikanth Umakanthan1, Pradeep Sahu2, Anu V Ranade3
1Paraclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at Saint Augustine Faculty of Medical Sciences, Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago Srikanth.Umakanthan@sta.uwi.edu dr.u.srikanth@gmail.com.
Insights
This review covers the origin, transmission, diagnosis, and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Key strategies include supportive care, isolation, and containment, though vaccine development remains a challenge.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Coronaviruses have caused significant global health threats, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and the current COVID-19 pandemic.
- The accelerated geographic spread of coronaviruses over the past two decades highlights their pandemic potential.
- COVID-19, originating in China, represents the latest major coronavirus outbreak.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current knowledge on the origin, transmission, diagnosis, and management of COVID-19.
- To synthesize information on the historical context of coronavirus pandemics.
- To outline current and future challenges in controlling coronavirus spread.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on coronaviruses, focusing on COVID-19.
- Synthesis of information regarding viral origins, transmission routes, and clinical manifestations.
- Analysis of diagnostic techniques and management strategies.
Main Results:
- Coronaviruses are believed to originate from zoonotic sources and spread via direct and contact transmission.
- COVID-19 symptoms range from fever, cough, and myalgia to severe respiratory failure.
- Diagnosis is confirmed by reverse transcriptase PCR, and management involves supportive therapy and mechanical ventilation for severe cases.
Conclusions:
- Preventive strategies, including isolation and community containment, are crucial for reducing public spread.
- Successful disease isolation and community containment are vital public health measures.
- The development of an effective vaccine to eliminate the virus remains an ongoing and significant challenge.
Abstract:
Coronavirus has emerged as a global health threat due to its accelerated geographic spread over the last two decades. This article reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the origin, transmission, diagnosis and management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Historically, it has caused two pandemics: severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome followed by the present COVID-19 that emerged from China. The virus is believed to be acquired from zoonotic source and spreads through direct and contact transmission. The symptomatic phase manifests with fever, cough and myalgia to severe respiratory failure. The diagnosis is confirmed using reverse transcriptase PCR. Management of COVID-19 is mainly by supportive therapy along with mechanical ventilation in severe cases. Preventive strategies form the major role in reducing the public spread of virus along with successful disease isolation and community containment. Development of a vaccine to eliminate the virus from the host still remains an ongoing challenge.
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