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Objective: To evaluate the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the tear and conjunctival secretions of laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A total of 152 consecutive COVID-19 patients, confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test in nasopharyngeal swabs, were included. The conjunctival swabs were taken from both eyes by the same ophthalmologist in the first 24-36 hours after positive test results for COVID-19 in the nasopharyngeal swabs were detected. Results: Of the 152 patients, 96 (63.15%) were male and 56 (36.85%) were female. The mean age was 39.36±13.15 years. Sixteen (10.5%) patients had symptoms or findings such as tearing, stinging, redness, pain, and burning in their eyes. RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in conjunctival swabs were positive in 13 (8.55%) of 152 COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: This study showed that SARS-CoV-2 may be found in the conjunctival swabs of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients, and ocular secretions may be a possible route for virus transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to show the consistence between the recommended guidelines regarding the triad of symptoms cough, dyspnea, and fever and the diagnosis of COVID-19.Methods:A prospective observational study conducted at a tertiary emergency department between April 2, 2020 and May 15, 2020 in Turkey. Detailed patient history, main presenting complaints and imaging findings were recorded. For COVID-19 confirmation, nasopharyngeal RT-PCR was used. The relationship between complaints and COVID-19 test results were analyzed. Results: Of the 1226, suspected COVID-19 patients, 127 were positive, 471 were negative, and 628 were discharged without any tests. The most common presenting complaints of the COVID-19 positive patients were throat pain (25.2%), dyspnea (15%), cough (22%), malaise and fatigue (11.8%), and fever (8.7%). There was no statistically significant difference between the positive and negative test groups as they had fever (χ², p = 0.30), cough (χ², p = 0.67) and dyspnea (χ2, p = 0.14). Conclusion: Considering that it is difficult to diagnose COVID-19 in emergency settings, testing decision and diagnosis should not depend only on classical symptoms; otherwise, patients with atypical and rare symptoms may be missed. Instead, patient history, clinical status, and radiological findings should be considered together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: SARS-CoV-2, emerged in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan in the People's Republic of China affects children as well as all age groups. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and outcomes of pediatric cases with COVID-19 in the first month of the epidemic in Turkey. Method: This single center cross-sectional study was conducted in University of Health Sciences Dr Behçet Uz Child Diseases and Pediatric Surgery Training and Research Hospital during the period of March 11 - April 20, 2020. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical data were collected from medical records. All patients were confirmed by real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Chidren were classified as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, and critically ill patients. Results: In this study, we reported the clinical characteristics of a case series involving 30 chilren with COVID-19 aged from 23 days to 16 years. Twenty-nine (96.7%) patients had confirmed contact with family members for COVİD-19. The majority of patients were asymptomatic (50%) or had mild symptoms (26.7%). Fever (46.6%) and cough (33.3%) were the most common symptoms. Conclusion: Our study indicated that COVID 19 in children exhibited less severe symptoms and had better outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of 63 possible and definite COVID-19 patients who were followed up and treated in Sivas Cumhuriyet University Pandemic Clinic in April and May, 2020. Method: In this retrospective study, the diagnosis and treatment of the patients were made according to the Turkish Ministry of Health COVID-19 guidelines. Patients' age, gender, underlying diseases, routine blood tests, SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results, clinical characteristics, treatments and radiological findings of the patients were taken from the patient files. Results: The age range of 63 patients was 18-87 years, and the mean age was 43 years. 37 patients (58.7%) were male, and 26 (41.3%) were female. 25 patients had positive PCR test for SARS CoV-2. PCR negativity developed on the 3rd day at the earliest and the 20th day at the latest, with an average of 10 days. In 2 patients, the fluctuation was observed in the process of negativity of the PCR test. It was seen that the most complaint was cough and second one was shortness of breath. It was remarkable that most of our patients did not have a high fever. Of the patients, the mean white blood cell count was 6,663 and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio was average 2.25. In 49 patients (77.8%), lung lesions were detected with chest CT. The most common finding we detected with chest CT was bilateral multiple ground-glass areas. Hydroxychloroquine treatment was given to 90% of the patients. In addition to the standard treatment, 3.1% of the patients were given Favipiravir treatment. Conclusions: In this study, epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological characteristics of 63 COVID-19 cases followed in Sivas province were reported. Global collaboration and sharing data and experiences on COVID-19 is essential to managing the current pandemic process in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since December 2019, 2019 outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) spread all over the world as well as in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory effects of covid 19 disease on children. The epidemiological, laboratory, radiological, and treatment features of the 30 pediatric patients with covid-19 evaluated retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 10 years, boys and girls ratio was 1.5 (18/12). Of the patients, 80.7% had family contact and 11.5% had comorbidity. The most common symptom was fever (84.6%), and cough was the second frequency (57.7%). All patients except 1 patient had a mild course, 5 were asymptomatic. One patient needed intensive care who had underlying chronic disease. Neutropenia was the most common laboratory anomaly (36.6%). Increased D-dimer levels were observed in 9 patients (30%), decreased leukocyte was in 7 patients (23.3%) and increasedlactate dehydrogenaz level was in 8 patients (26.6%). Chest computed tomography was taken 14 patients who had an abnormal chest X-rays, and ground-glass opacities were seen in 6 patients (20%). Hydroxychlorachine, azithromycin and other antibiotic treatments were given to the necessary patients. The mean PCR negative time in the treated symptomatic group was 8.8 +5.34 day, while in the untreated asymptomatic group 12 + 5.19 day and there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.154). The correlation between PCR negative time and clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings was examined and no correlation was found. In conclusion, pediatric covid 19 is mostly transmitted by family contact and has a mild course if there is no underlying disease. The most common symptoms are fever and cough. Ground glass densities on lung tomography are similar to adult. More conservative approaches may be preferred in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]