Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has affected the entire world with India being reporting cases since late of February 2020. As India is a tropical country the disease might behave differently and with different outcomes in contrast with temperate ones. Materials and Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients admitted with diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and evaluated them by pre-formed proforma to record epidemiology, history, examination and investigation. All cases were diagnosed by RT-PCR for SARS CoV2 from nasopharyngeal sample. Final outcome, hospital stays and viral clearance was estimated.

Result: There were 60 patients with 20% females and 42 (70%) were symptomatic. Mean age was 42.15±5.3 years. 4 were foreign nationals, 3 were infected at religious gathering and 5 (8.3 %) were healthcare. Among symptomatic cases 38 had mild disease with 4 severe cases of pneumonitis of which 2 succumbed to death. Psychological disturbances were seen in 38 (63.3 %) and 50 % patients experienced adverse drug reaction. Minimal response to drug on viral clearance was seen. Multiple organ failure was cause of death in our patients. Loss of smell was observed in 1 case. Mean duration for viral clearance was 9.3±6.8 (2-27) days (range= 4-27 days) and 15 (50%) patients took more than 2 weeks for clearance. Follow up of surviving patients were uneventful.

Conclusion: Asymptomatic and mild disease patients without comorbidities can be excluded from drug therapy and psychological counselling should be a regular support modality. Alternative therapies should be looked into as most of treatments are not effective and viral clearance should not be the end point of treatment.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; Northern India; Clinical profile; Viral clearance; Adverse drug effects

Abbreviations: MODS: Multi Organ Dysfunction Syndrome; DIC: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation; ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome