Epidemiological Profile in Covid 19 Patients with Normal Chest Xray: A Clinicophysiological Study

This chapter evaluated the clinical profile and outcome in terms of discharge from the hospital after testing negative or mortality during hospital stay in patients of covid 19 diagnosed by RT PCR of nasopharngeal sample and presenting with normal chest xray meaning having no signs of bronchopneumonia or lobar pneumonia at presentation. COVID-19 has a wide spectrum of presentation. Data from various countries have demonstrated a global variation in clinical characteristics.

This was a prospective observational study done in the department of TB and Respiratory Diseases, JN medical college AMU, Aligarh from August 2020 to September 2020. A total of 51 patients above the age of 15 years diagnosed with covid 19 by RT PCR of nasopharngeal/oropharyngeal samples were included in the study. History of symptoms onset was recorded, Chest xray and haematological investigations were done of all patients. Out of 51 patients 49 patients (96%) had stable vitals at presentation, were maintaining normal saturation on room air and none of them required supplemental oxygen. However 7 patients complained of dyspnea at presentation but only two patients were found to be hypoxic with pulse oximeter and required supplemental oxygen and later on improved and were maintaining normal saturation at room air.

Most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus. There was no mortality reported in patients with normal chest xray. It is concluded that chest xrays should be performed at the time of diagnosis of covid 19 in order to have a quick idea about thoracic involvement and categorization of the patient. With no definitive treatment till date preventive measure is the best approach to avoid infection.