Evaluation of Clinical Features of Covid-19 and Outcome of Home Management

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Along with control measures, the awareness of disease pattern and consideration of home management might help in decreasing the patient burden on health care facilities. The objectives of study were to evaluate the clinical presentations of COVID- 19 among the patients and assess the outcome of home management.
Design: Descriptive observational study.
Place and Duration of study: Different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, conducted from May to November 2020.
Patients and Methods: A self-designed validated proforma was used to collect personal and clinical data from PCR positive COVID -19 patients. It included the information about city of residence, age, sex, exposure to COVID -19 patient, comorbidities, clinical symptoms, radiologic findings, laboratory findings, complications, treatment, and clinical outcome. The data were processed by SPSS 25 and the descriptive statistical values of the variables were calculated.
Results: Among the 100 study participants most of the patients were young adults in the 21-30 years age group. The symptoms were present in 88% of patients. The most common symptoms were fever, body aches, fatigue and sore throat. The comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal and cardiac disorders were present in 35%. All of the patients were quarantined at home but 13% were hospitalized later. The patients using Azithromycin were 55%, analgesics 69%, vitamin supplements 50%, herbal qahwas 50% and special diet 37%. About 73% of patients focused on prayers and supplications. The patients cured after home quarantine were 87 %. After hospitalization, 9% were cured and 4% died.
Conclusion: The patients with any comorbidity were the candidates of severe disease. Home quarantine, boosting of immunity and faith were found to be the effective measures for recovery from the disease.