Open AccessROLE OF CT CHEST AS FIRST CHOICE FOR EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF COVID-19 PNEUMONIA EVEN IN RT-PCR NEGATIVE CASE
Author(s) -
Shoaib Asghar,
Junaid Mustafa,
Arsalan Ahmad Khan Durrani,
Habib Rehman,
Sohaib Asghar,
Muhammad Usama
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
jamc. journal of ayub medical college, abbotabad, pakistan/journal of ayub medical college
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.195
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1819-2718
pISSN - 1025-9589
DOI - 10.55519/jamc-02-9127
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , pneumonia , covid-19 , viral pneumonia , septic shock , virology , radiology , pathology , disease , sepsis , infectious disease (medical specialty)
The workup of corona virus disease (COVID-19) involves analyzing samples for acute or past presence of SARS-CoV-2 (virus). A detection of 2019 novel Corona virus (2019-nCov) by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicates current infection and positive IgG antibody level implies a prior infection. Imaging techniques like high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest and Xray chest helps in diagnosing and monitoring the disease. Most cases of 2019-nCov are mild and range from asymptomatic carriers to critical illness leading to acute respiratory distress, septic shock and multiorgan failure. We report two cases of COVID-19 who manifested with high grade fever, myalgias, cough and shortness of breath on minimal exertion. All baseline laboratory findings were normal. Initial RT-PCR was negative for oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal swabs. CT Chest showing typical peripheral patchy and ground glass opacities bilaterally, other markers of infectivity followed by antibody titer confirms the disease.