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It was recently verified that the performance of computed tomography of the chest is as efficient to diagnose the infection by the new variant of the coronavirus, the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), as the molecular test RT-PCR that is normally used to identify and quantify the presence of the virus.
The study that indicates the performance of computed tomography says that from this exam it is possible to obtain faster evidence that it is COVID-19 and for that it was necessary to study a population composed of people who were submitted to computed tomography and RT-PCR for investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Why CT scan?
Computed tomography is an image exam that is being implemented in the diagnostic routine for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 due to the fact that this virus is responsible for several pulmonary alterations, which have been verified to be common to most of the carriers of this virus.
When compared to RT-PCR, computed tomography is accurate and provides faster information and, therefore, should be included in the diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2. Some of the characteristics of COVID-19 that are observed in computed tomography are organized multifocal pneumonia, architectural distortion in pulmonary peripheral distribution and the presence of "ground-glass" opacities.
Thus, based on the result of computed tomography, the diagnosis can be concluded more quickly and the person's treatment and isolation can also happen more quickly. However, although the results of computed tomography are highly sensitive, it is necessary that the result be confirmed by molecular tests and related to the person's clinical history.
How the COVID-19 is diagnosed
The clinical-epidemiological diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is currently carried out by assessing the signs and symptoms presented by the person, in addition to assessing risk factors. That is, if the person has come into contact with a person with confirmed coronavirus infection or has been in a location where there are several cases of the disease, and has fever and / or respiratory symptoms about 14 days after contact, it may be considered a case of coronavirus infection based on clinical-epidemiological factors.
The diagnosis is also made through laboratory tests, mainly RT-PCR from the collection of blood and respiratory secretions, in which the virus is identified, as well as the amount circulating in the body, which is important for them to be necessary care has been established.
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