Incidentally Diagnosed COVID-19 in the Emergency Department: A Case Series

Alireza Jalali; Ehsan Karimi Alavijeh; Ehsan Alinia Gerdroudbari; Sepideh Babaniamansour

doi:10.18502/crcp.v5iS1.6238

Alireza Jalali Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ehsan Karimi Alavijeh Department of Emergency Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Ehsan Alinia Gerdroudbari Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Sepideh Babaniamansour Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v5iS1.6238

Keywords: Incidental findings; Emergency Service; Hospital; COVID-19; Asymptomatic diseases

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become the most important challenge for health care worldwide. COVID-19 can be presented as an asymptomatic infection primarily or entirely, which plays a critical role in human-to-human transmission. This issue poses a huge challenge to the patients seeking care in the Emergency Department (ED). We described the incidental diagnosis of COVID-19 among 11 patients referring to the ED due to the complaints not in favor of COVID-19. All patients had lung involvements in their chest computed tomography scan, and positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction test. It is suggested that during the COVID-19 outbreak, all the staff in the ED must be extremely cautious and deploy recommended personal protective equipment regardless of the patient’s primary complaint. All patients and their family members must be protected against any suspicious contacts while visiting the ED.