EARLY DETECTION OF COVID-19

Hafiz Muhammad Asif; Hafiz Abdul Sattar Hashmi

Since SARS-Cov-2 epidemic appeared in Wuhan China, it became challenge for health authorities to counter Covid-19 epidemic. Early evaluation of suspects, screening for Covid-19 and management posed challenge to health authorities especially in developing countries which were not ready to cope with it. Health care providers faced challenge to initially interpret Covid-19 profiles by early symptoms because course of disease for carriers, infected and complicated profiles were not known previously and required necessarily evaluation of severity of cases presenting during epidemic. 1 Developing world faced several glitches due to scarcity of diagnostic materials, expensive diagnostic procedures, pre-requisite of highly skilled and trained health staff. Since, developing countries were not ready to cope with Covid-19 consequence to endemic spread. Na Zhu et al, firstly cultured SARS-Cov-2 on cell line and done genetic sequencing and SARS-Cov-2 was numbered seven in family of corona viruses. 2 Novel Coronavirus infection started with zoonotic contact to humans and cause respiratory symptoms like of pneumonia. On detailed study of characteristics of novel coronavirus given name SARS-Cov-2 because of appearance of similar symptoms of Acute Respiratory Syndrome caused by previously known coronaviruses. 2 Morens et al, described SARS-Cov-2 has longer incubation period as compared to influenza viruses. Delayed onset of symptoms may provide a chance for early detection and intervention during pathogenesis of Covid-19. 3 Before severe attack of SARS-Cov-2 to cause Covid-19 mild symptoms appearance holds very important information about the pathogenesis of Covid-19. Li Q et al, provides information on mean incubation period of 5.2 days for Covid-19 symptoms to appear and mean period of 12.5 days for hospitalization from onset of symptoms. 4 Time period between mild symptoms appearance to critical attack of Covid-19 provides a chance for early detection by tracing common signs and symptoms appeared before severe attack of Covid-19. Early time period of Covid-19 infection extends chance of interjectory interventions. Anthony S. Fauci et al, explained the importance of such delay onset of symptoms and such delay may provide crucial information for intervention to halt Covid-19 which could be possible with better understanding of pathogenesis of covid-19. 5