Key messages
- Our understanding of this condition is increasing, but there is still much uncertainty.
- Many patients with acute Covid-19 have involvement of their respiratory system, characterised by dry cough, dyspnoea, hypoexaemia and abnormal imaging results.
- There are many different presenting symptoms; only 15% of patients present with fever, cough, and dyspnea.
- There has been a change in diagnostic criteria for Covid-19 regarding This has led to a change in the advice that any adult with anosmia but no other symptoms should self- isolate for seven days. ENTUK have provided further details regarding this.
- Increasing evidence points to potentially large pools of asymptomatic transmission.
- The main complications of Covid-19 mortality are pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which can come on suddenly after seemingly mild symptoms.
- Although most patients have mild -to- moderate disease, 5-10% progress to severe or critical disease, including pneumonia and acute respiratory failure.
Please use this link for further information about the clinical course of Covid-19.