Clinico Serological Study of Post COVID cases reported in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Palakol, West Godavari Dist, Andhra Pradesh

ABSTRACT

Background:SARS-COV-2 is a new Beta Corona virus discovered in China (December 2019).It is responsible for an international outbreak of respiratory illness termed COVID -19 ranging from self-limiting Respiratory Tract Illness to Severe Progressive Pneumonia, Multi Organ Failure and Death. Methods:This prospective study was done to analyze the clinical features, seroconversion and lab abnormalities in Post Covid cases from June 2020- Dec 2020.Whole blood samples were collected from Post COVID -19 cases (cases who were tested SARS COV- 2 Posi- tive with RT PCR in Government Testing Centers and were quarantined for 1 month from the day of testing) who presented to OPD with fatigue, breathing difficulty, muscle ache etc. They were tested for IgM and IgG using Biomerieux VIDAS SARS COV - 2 IgM and IgG Assay kits respectively. (Enzyme Linked Fluorescence Assay- ELFA). Clinically relevant lab investigations were also done and noted. [Formula presented] Results:Out of 40 cases tested, 37cases (92.5%) have mounted a specific anti SARS COV-2 IgM and/or IgG immune response. IgM was positive in 90% of (30-50days) Post COVID group.Ddimer levels were raised (62%) in cases with breathing difficulty and severe fatigue. Inflammatory markers like HsCRP, ESR were also raised and correlat- ed with the severity of post COVID symptoms.The test values of IgM and IgG obtained on testing singly on VIDAS instrument seem to correlate with the severity of COVID disease history given by the cases. Conclusions:Majority of post COVID cases mount a specific anti SARS COV2 response. The immune response / Seroconversion is Signifi- cant in COVID survivors who suffered from severe disease. Severe fatigue, altered taste, breathing difficulty are the common symp- toms in post COVID cases.