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Observational Study
. 2021 Jan 1;63(1):27-31.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002015.

Diagnosis of COVID-19 Based on Symptomatic Analysis of Hospital Healthcare Workers in Belgium: Observational Study in a Large Belgian Tertiary Care Center During Early COVID-19 Outbreak

Nele Van Loon  1 , Mathieu Verbrugghe, Reinoud Cartuyvels, Dirk Ramaekers
Affiliations
Observational Study

Diagnosis of COVID-19 Based on Symptomatic Analysis of Hospital Healthcare Workers in Belgium: Observational Study in a Large Belgian Tertiary Care Center During Early COVID-19 Outbreak

Nele Van Loon et al. J Occup Environ Med. .

Abstract

Objective: To identify early symptoms allowing rapid appraisal of infection with SARS-CoV-2 among healthcare workers of a large Belgian hospital.

Methods: Healthcare workers with mild symptoms of an acute respiratory tract infection were systematically screened on clinical characteristics of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A nasopharyngeal swab was taken and analyzed by real-time Reverse-Transcription-Polymerase-Chain-Reaction (rRT-PCR).

Results: Fifty percent of 373 workers tested COVID-19 positive. The symptoms cough (82%), headache (78%), myalgia (70%), loss of smell or taste (40%), and fever more than or equal to 37.5 °C (76%) were significantly higher among those infected.

Conclusion: Where each individual symptom contributes to the clinical evaluation of possible infection, it is the combination of COVID-19 symptoms that could allow for a rapid diagnostic appraisal of the disease in a high prevalence setting. Early transmission control is important at the onset of an epidemic.

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Conflict of interest statement

Van Loon, Verbrugghe, Cartuyvels, and Ramaekers have no relationships/conditions/circumstances that present potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Number of daily COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative tested hospital workers.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Symptoms of COVID-19 positive versus COVID-19 negative hospital workers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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