Symptomatology of COVID-19 In Healthcare Workers in A Tertiary Care Rehab Medicine Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To document the initial presentation of COVID-19 cases among different age groups of healthcare workers in a tertiary care rehabilitation hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: COVID-19 Ward at AFRIM, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar 2021 to Mar 2022. Methodology: Doctors and healthcare workers in the COVID-19 ward at a tertiary care rehabilitation hospital were included. Demographic data of all patients was noted. The primary data sources were patients' presenting complaints, history, examination, and medical records. Results: Out of 159 patients, 46(28.9%) were from age group 15-29 years, 103(64.8%) were from 30-45 years and 10(6.3%) from 46-60 years. General duty staff (including patient attendants, ward boys, and stretcher-bearers) was the most common (18.9%) to be affected among rehabilitation health care professionals. The most common symptoms were fever 112(70.4%), sore throat 86(54.1%), cough 74(46.5%) and fatigue 69(43.4%). Most HCWs were 30-45 years age group 103(64.8%). Most patients had duration of symptoms for 3-5 days 107(67.3%). Conclusion: Healthcare professionals working in rehabilitation medicine facilities were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic globally. Most of our general duty HCWs aged 30-45 years were infected with COVID-19. However, symptomology was similar to what has been reported in the literature.

Keywords

• : Rehabilitation; Cough; Nurses; Doctors; Physiotherapists; Fever; Pakistan; Lower Middle Income Country; diarrhea; Fatigue.