Features of Patients with 2019 Novel Coronavirus Admitted in a Pneumology Department: The First Retrospective Tunisian Case Series

Aim: On 2 March 2020, Tunisia has reported the first confirmed case of COVID-19. Since then, the disease has affected about 700 persons in the country. The purpose of our study was to report epidemiological, clinical, radiological and therapeutic features of patients with 2019-nCoV infection admitted in the pneumology department.

Methods: We extracted the data of the consequetive 20 patients managed in the department of pneumology B at Abderrahmen Mami hospital, from March, 26 to April, 8, 2020.

Results: The median age was 61 years old [41-85]. There were 9 men and 11 women.  Underlying disorders were observed in 16 patients (80%). Five patients were health care workers. Three patients did not have any known exposure. Common symptoms included fever (100%), shortness of breath (70%) and cough (70%). Computed tomography scans showed bilateral ground glass opacities in 7/9 cases. Fifteen patients received both chloroquine and azithromycin. Fourteen patients (70%) were discharged before April, 8, 2020. Reported complications were: hypokalemia (3 cases), pulmonary embolism (2 cases) and QT prolongation (1 case). One patient died from acute cardiac injury.

Conclusion: Knowing the different aspects of moderate and severe forms of the disease can contribute to advance in infection control strategies.