Abstract

Deepak B. Bari, Shubhangi R. Vinchurkar*, Lalita S. Chaudhari and Dr. Chandrakant V. Pardeshi

ABSTRACT

From last year, the world is threatened with the emergence and spread of a new public health crisis called novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) or the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is a highly contagious disease. The virus basically originated in bats, and was transmitted to humans through yet unknown intermediary animals in Wuhan, Hubei province, China in late 2019. WHO has declared the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 to be a global public health pandemic. The 2019-nCoV is transmitted by inhalation or contact with infected droplets and its incubation period ranges from 2-14 days. The symptoms are usually fever, cough, sore throat, breathlessness, fatigue, malaise among others. Though many peoples are asymptomatic, the disease is mild in most people in preliminary stages of its progression while in some (usually the elderly and those with comorbidities), it may progress to pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and multi-organ dysfunction. The case fatality rate is estimated to range from 2-3%. Diagnosis is by demonstration of the virus in respiratory secretions by special molecular tests, after collecting the oropharyngeal swab. Based on current published evidence, the present review systematically summarizes the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of COVID-19. We hope that this review will help the public to recognize and deal with SARS-CoV-2. Besides, the authors are hopeful that the present review will also be a useful bunch for future studies by researchers, and students.