EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROFILE OF THE INITIAL COVID 19 PATIENTS AT A DESIGNATED COVID HOSPITAL IN SOUTH TAMIL NADU

Abstract

BACKGROUND:COVID-19, caused by SARS CoV-2 has caused a worldwide pandemic since its origins in December 2019. The spectrum of the disease ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe respiratory illness causing mortality in severe cases. Person to person spread through respiratory droplets appears to be the most common route of spread. AIM & OBJECTIVE:This study aims to assess the demographic prole of COVID-19 patients. In addition, measures of transmission probability are determined using travel history and contact tracing. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was done at a Government medical college in South Tamil Nadu over four months among patients who were RT-PCR positive for SARS CoV-2. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Aquestionnaire from NCDC for COVID-19 patients was used for collecting demographic and clinical details. Travel history and contact tracing were obtained using telephonic interviews and in person interviews. STATISTICALANALYSIS USED: Data was entered using MS-Excel and analysed using R studio version 3.6.3. RESULTS: Majority of the patients belonged to 20 to 49 years of age. Around 14.6% were symptomatic with fever and sore throat being predominant. Diabetes and hypertension were the most associated comorbidities. A positive contact history was present among 46.58% of the cases. The secondary attack rate was 25.03% and R0 was 2.76 CONCLUSIONS: The absence of a positive contact history and the preponderance of asymptomatic cases seem to contribute to the spread of the disease and impede control efforts. Hence, a multi-pronged approach including community participation, active surveillance systems and legal measures would be of great impact in slowing disease spread.