CLINICAL-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND EVO LUTIONARY ASPECTS IN THE FIRST 20 PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19, HOSPITALIZED IN THE INFECTIOUS AND TROP ICAL DISEASES CLINICAL HOSPITAL „DR. VICTOR BABES”.

In March 2020, the first patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were hospitalized in the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Clinical Hospital „Dr. Victor Babes”. Of the 20 patients, 11 were male and 9 were female. Patients were aged between 3 to 56 years. 8 patients traveled outside Romania during the incubation period of the disease. The most common symptom cluster encompassed the respiratory system: fever, cough and shortness of breath. 2 patients presented severe forms of disease that required transfer to the intensive care unit. Radiologically, 18 patients had interstitial lung damage. All patients had a favorable evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]