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Review
. 2021 Oct;35(3):269-292.
doi: 10.1016/j.bpa.2020.12.003. Epub 2020 Dec 8.

Biology of COVID-19 and related viruses: Epidemiology, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Alan D Kaye  1 , Elyse M Cornett  2 , Kimberley C Brondeel  3 , Zachary I Lerner  4 , Haley E Knight  5 , Abigail Erwin  6 , Karina Charipova  7 , Kyle L Gress  8 , Ivan Urits  9 , Richard D Urman  10 , Charles J Fox  11 , Christopher G Kevil  12
Affiliations
Review

Biology of COVID-19 and related viruses: Epidemiology, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

Alan D Kaye et al. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 2021 Oct.

Abstract

Coronaviruses belong to the family Coronaviridae order Nidovirales and are known causes of respiratory and intestinal disease in various mammalian and avian species. Species of coronaviruses known to infect humans are referred to as human coronaviruses (HCoVs). While traditionally, HCoVs have been a significant cause of the common cold, more recently, emergent viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic. Here, we discuss coronavirus disease (COVID-19) biology, pathology, epidemiology, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recent clinical trials involving promising treatments.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; outbreak; respiratory droplets; upper-respiratory tract illnesses.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Richard D. Urman received unrelated funding or fees from Merck, Medtronic/Covidien, AcelRx, Heron and Pfizer. Alan D. Kaye received fees from Merck. Other authors report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Symptom prevalence in COVID-19 literature showing the presentation of fever, cough, dyspnea, chills, gastrointestinal symptoms, neurologic symptoms, and fatigue in recent literature.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic of hematological abnormalities in COVID-19 patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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