Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Japan: A Single-Center Case Series

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases 2020-06, Vol.222 (2), p.194-197
• Main Authors: Kobayashi, Ken-ichiro, Kaki, Takahiro, Mizuno, Shinsuke, Kubo, Kenji, Komiya, Nobuhiro, Otsu, Satoko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Betacoronavirus; Case reports; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Computed tomography; Coronavirus Infections - diagnosis; Coronavirus Infections - diagnostic imaging; Coronavirus Infections - physiopathology; Coronaviruses; Cough; COVID-19; COVID-19 Testing; Female; Fever; Humans; Japan; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pharynx; Pharynx - virology; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Viral - diagnostic imaging; Pneumonia, Viral - physiopathology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa244

Abstract We report a case series of 6 patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wakayama prefecture, Japan. All 6 of the patients tested positive via pharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and 2 of the 6 were still positive at 3 weeks after onset. All of the patients exhibited bilateral ground glass opacities on computed tomography (CT). This article also reports narrative information on the spectrum of symptoms collected directly from the patients. It would be difficult to triage patients with COVID-19 based on the typical symptoms of fever and/or cough, although PCR and CT are definitive in diagnosis. We report a case series of 6 patients with COVID-19. The complaints and symptoms experienced by the patients varied. It would be difficult to triage patients with COVID-19 based on typical symptoms, although polymerase chain reaction and computed tomography are definitive in diagnosis.