ROUTINE PERIPHERAL BLOOD CHARACTERISTICS, IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 - EXPERIENCE FROM STATE COVID HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Abstract

Background: The COVID 19 pandemic is an ongoing pandemic of Corona virus disease 2019. Patients with milder symptoms have good prognosis, but severe and critical patients are difficult to treat and have high mortality rate. Many previous studies show that routine blood parameters help in predicting the progress of infectious diseases. Aims and Objectives: To analyse the peripheral blood characteristics in patients with COVID 19 and assess the efficacy, in the prognostic terms of COVID 19 patients. Material and Methods: this is a retrospective study, conducted at a state COVID hospital in South India. Results: A total of 155 cases of Covid positive patients are presented. According to severity of illness, there are 119 (76.77%) cases, categorized as mild, 24(15.48%) cases as moderate and 12 (7.74%) with severe symptoms. Conclusion: Periodic follow up of routine peripheral blood parameters, including peripheral blood film examination, help in prediction of severe COVID-19 cases.