Abstract:

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and provide evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods 39 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to Taiyuan Fourth People’s Hospital from January 21 to March 05,2020 were collected, the epidemiology,demographic characteristics clinical manifestations, laboratory examination,chest CT features, treatment plan and effect evaluation were analyzed. Results Median age (quartile) (M(Q₁,Q₃)) was 58(37,68), 25 males (64.1%),and 14 females (35.9%). 33 cases (84.6%) had a clear exposure history of contact with COVID-19 patients, 23 cases (59.0%) were clustered patients. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (30 cases (76.9%)), followed by cough (24 cases (61.5%)), expectoration (17 cases (43.6%)), chest distress or dyspnea (11 cases (28.2%)), fatigue (10 cases (25.6%)), inappetence (4 cases (10.3%)), runny nose in (3 cases (7.7%)), nasal obstruction and pharyngeal dryness and pharyngalgia (2 cases (5.1%)), and muscle soreness (1 case (2.6%)). CT features showed that bilateral multiple lesions (34 cases, 87.2%) and unilateral lesions (5 cases,12.8%),and the shadows were mostly outside the lung. The median days (quartile) (M(Q₁,Q₃)), from the onset to the negative of the nucleic acid test of the pharyngeal swab negative, were 15(11,19)days. Chest CT features of the lesions from onset to dissipation were 17 (14,19)days. All 39 patients were cured and discharged from hospital, and no recurrence was found in the follow-up after 2 to 4 weeks. Conclusion Most of the COVID-19 patients are cluster cases, and the main symptoms are fever, cough, expectoration, chest distress, dyspnea and fatigue. Chest CT features have important diagnostic value. On the basis of antiviral therapy, oxygen therapy and appropriate glucocorticoid therapy can help reduce symptoms and improve the prognosis.

Key words: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Diagnosis,differential, Disease attributes, Treatment outcome