Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection : A Narrative Review.
Ann Intern Med
; 173(5): 362-367, 2020 09 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-505964
ABSTRACT
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly throughout the world since the first cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were observed in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It has been suspected that infected persons who remain asymptomatic play a significant role in the ongoing pandemic, but their relative number and effect have been uncertain. The authors sought to review and synthesize the available evidence on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Asymptomatic persons seem to account for approximately 40% to 45% of SARS-CoV-2 infections, and they can transmit the virus to others for an extended period, perhaps longer than 14 days. Asymptomatic infection may be associated with subclinical lung abnormalities, as detected by computed tomography. Because of the high risk for silent spread by asymptomatic persons, it is imperative that testing programs include those without symptoms. To supplement conventional diagnostic testing, which is constrained by capacity, cost, and its one-off nature, innovative tactics for public health surveillance, such as crowdsourcing digital wearable data and monitoring sewage sludge, might be helpful.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Coronavirus Infections
/
Asymptomatic Diseases
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Intern Med
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
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