Detection of coronavirus disease 2019 in patients presenting with influenza-like illness

Introduction
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global public health emergency, has brought life to an unprecedented near-standstill. So many respiratory viruses including the new pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be attributed to influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). The differentiation of different respiratory viruses based on symptoms and clinical examination is very difficult without testing for a specific virus. All ILI patients should undergo COVID-19 testing as per WHO revised strategies and Indian Medical Council Research guidelines.


Objectives
To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with ILIs during the present pandemic.


Patients and methods
A prospective study was conducted in a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, Bengaluru. All ILI patients visiting the Victoria Hospital underwent nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab collection and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 as per the Indian Medical Council Research-approved protocol.


Results
In all, 12 062 patients attended the fever clinic in Victoria Hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Out of them, 1167 (12.67%) patients presented with ILI. Of the studied patients, 873 (78%) patients were under 50 years. Male patients constituted 67.09% of the study population. In the present study, 337 (30.55%) of the patients with ILI tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Nearly 2/3rd of SARS-CoV-2-positive ILI patients were males and below 50 years. The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 was higher in the noncontainment zone than the containment zones of ILI patients although statistically not significant (P=0.09).


Conclusion
Thirty percent of ILI patients were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Majority of SARS-CoV-2 positive tested ILI patients were men under the age of 50 years.