Evolving global and national criteria for identifying a suspected case of COVID-19

Autor: Amporn Atsawarungruangkit, Jin Yuan, Takamitsu Kodama, Ming-Tai Cheng, Mohammad Mansouri, Boram Han, Jarinrat Kongkamnerd, Fabian Riegg, Anupama Menon, Steven F. Moss
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of International Medical Research, Vol 48 (2020)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1473-2300
03000605
DOI: 10.1177/0300060520938943
Popis: Background The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) began in December 2019 and continues to spread worldwide. Rapid and accurate identification of suspected cases is critical in slowing spread of the virus that causes the disease. We aimed to highlight discrepancies in the various criteria used by international agencies and highly impacted individual countries around the world. Methods We reviewed the criteria for identifying a suspected case of COVID-19 used by two international public health agencies and 10 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. The criteria included information on the clinical causes of illness and epidemiological risk factors. Non-English language guidelines were translated into English by a co-author who is fluent in that particular language. Results Although most criteria are modifications of World Health Organization recommendations, the specific clinical features and epidemiological risks for triggering evaluation of patients with suspected COVID-19 differed widely among countries. The rationale for these differences may be related to each country’s resources, politics, experience with previous outbreaks or pandemics, health insurance system, COVID-19 outbreak severity, and other undetermined factors. Conclusion We found no consensus regarding the best diagnostic criteria for identifying a suspected case of COVID-19.
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