Diagnosis, treatment and the reasons for re-detectable positive RNA test of one case of imported COVID-19 in Chengdu

ABSTRACT

Summarizing the clinical characteristics and the process of two times of nucleic acid turning re-positive after discharge of an imported COVID-19 case in Chengdu in order to provide experience for clinical management of such cases. A retrospective research method was used to analyze the diagnosis and treatment process, as well as the clinical symptoms and examination results 15 days after discharge of an imported COVID-19 case in Chengdu. The case was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid in Thailand on March 7, 2020. After arriving in Chengdu on March 10, 2020, he was sent to Chengdu Public Health Clinical Medical Center for isolation treatment. On March 11, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test of nasopharyngeal swab was suspiciously positive and the result of anal swab was positive. The case was admitted to the hospital as an asymptomatic accompanied by a decline in cellular immune function, his physical examination showed no positive signs. Then he was converted to a confirmed case after 22 days of hospitalization. After the case was discharged 15 days from the hospital, his virus nucleic acid had returned re-positive for 2 times. He was accompanied by neurological symptoms and was diagnosed as anxious and depressive when nucleic acid returned re-positive for the second time, and his symptoms resolved after treatment with psychiatric drugs. Asymptomatic patients of COVID-19 can be converted to confirmed cases. Nucleic acid returning re-positive does not mean that the patient's condition has relapsed or worsened. Patients with COVID-19 may have mental disorder, medical staff need to find it out in time and provide psychological intervention or necessary medication.