tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020 Apr 14:194599820920649. doi: 10.1177/0194599820920649. [Epub ahead of print]
Otolaryngology Providers Must Be Alert for Patients with Mild and Asymptomatic COVID-19.
Cheng X[SUP]1[/SUP], Liu J[SUP]2[/SUP], Li N[SUP]3[/SUP], Nisenbaum E[SUP]4[/SUP], Sun Q[SUP]5[/SUP], Chen B[SUP]1[/SUP], Casiano R[SUP]4[/SUP], Weed D[SUP]4[/SUP], Telischi F[SUP]4[/SUP], Denneny JC 3rd[SUP]6[/SUP], Liu X[SUP]4[/SUP], Shu Y[SUP]1[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
More than half of COVID-19 patients are afebrile early in the disease course, yet mildly ill or asymptomatic patients can still spread SARS-CoV-2 with high efficiency. Atypically presenting patients may be seen in noninfectious disease settings such as otolaryngology, which is a specialty prone to occupational exposure. Otolaryngologists have been infected with COVID-19 at higher rates than other specialties in China and other countries. Otolaryngology providers should maintain high clinical suspicion for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Protective strategies should be implemented including preappointment screening, triaging, restriction of nonurgent visits and surgeries, telemedicine, and appropriate personal protective equipment use.
KEYWORDS:
2019-nCoV; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; health care worker protection
PMID:32286913DOI:10.1177/0194599820920649
Otolaryngology Providers Must Be Alert for Patients with Mild and Asymptomatic COVID-19.
Cheng X[SUP]1[/SUP], Liu J[SUP]2[/SUP], Li N[SUP]3[/SUP], Nisenbaum E[SUP]4[/SUP], Sun Q[SUP]5[/SUP], Chen B[SUP]1[/SUP], Casiano R[SUP]4[/SUP], Weed D[SUP]4[/SUP], Telischi F[SUP]4[/SUP], Denneny JC 3rd[SUP]6[/SUP], Liu X[SUP]4[/SUP], Shu Y[SUP]1[/SUP].
Author information
Abstract
More than half of COVID-19 patients are afebrile early in the disease course, yet mildly ill or asymptomatic patients can still spread SARS-CoV-2 with high efficiency. Atypically presenting patients may be seen in noninfectious disease settings such as otolaryngology, which is a specialty prone to occupational exposure. Otolaryngologists have been infected with COVID-19 at higher rates than other specialties in China and other countries. Otolaryngology providers should maintain high clinical suspicion for mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. Protective strategies should be implemented including preappointment screening, triaging, restriction of nonurgent visits and surgeries, telemedicine, and appropriate personal protective equipment use.
KEYWORDS:
2019-nCoV; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; health care worker protection
PMID:32286913DOI:10.1177/0194599820920649