Acute pericarditis as a primary presentation of COVID-19

Rajesh Kumar1, Jathinder Kumar2, Caroline Daly3

  • 1Cardiology, University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland rajesh2k7@yahoo.com.

BMJ Case Reports
|August 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Atypical COVID-19 presentation can include pericarditis without respiratory symptoms. Early suspicion is crucial for diagnosing this cardiac manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) typically presents with respiratory symptoms.
  • Cardiac involvement is a known complication of COVID-19, but presentations vary.
  • Atypical manifestations require careful consideration for accurate diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A case of COVID-19 is presented where the initial and sole manifestation was pericarditis.
  • The patient exhibited no classic respiratory symptoms associated with COVID-19.
  • The pericarditis was diagnosed without significant complications.

Findings:

  • This case demonstrates pericarditis as an unusual primary symptom of COVID-19.
  • The absence of respiratory symptoms highlights the diverse clinical spectrum of the virus.
  • Early diagnosis of atypical COVID-19 presentations is possible with a high index of suspicion.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering COVID-19 in patients with unexplained pericarditis.
  • Emphasizes the need for a broad diagnostic approach for coronavirus disease 2019.
  • Early identification and isolation are critical to prevent further transmission of COVID-19.

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