Diagnosis and Laboratory Measures of Covid-19 as Compared to Tropical Diseases in Pakistan

Introduction: The new pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread rapidly across the globe since first described four months ago after an epidemic of pneumonia and deaths.

Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the diagnosis of COVID-19 versus tropical diseases in Pakistan.

Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in BHU Shikar Pur,District Rajan pur during June 2021 to January 2022. The data was collected from 50 patients who attending the ICU and OPD of the hospital. History of high fever, chills, dry cough, myalgias, and diarrhea were noted in all patients.

Results: The data was collected from 100 patients. Initial laboratory tests were mostly unremarkable but showed mild elevation of liver function tests in all patients. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 by reverse transcriptase–Polymerase chain reaction, and both tests were negative.

Conclusion: It is concluded that COVID-19 is emerging as a pressing threat worldwide, this case underscores the need for clinicians practicing in Pakistan and other tropical regions to consider the possibility of common tropical diseases in all suspected patients.