Primary care management of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
Date
2020-03-31
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
South Africa is in the grip of a novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Primary care providers are in the frontline. COVID-19 is spread primarily by respiratory droplets contaminating
surfaces and hands that then transmit the virus to another person’s respiratory system. The
incubation period is 2–9 days and the majority of cases are mild. The most common symptoms
are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Older people and those with cardiopulmonary comorbidities
or immunological deficiency will be more at risk of severe disease. If people meet
the case definition, the primary care provider should immediately adopt infection prevention
and control measures. Diagnosis is made by a RT-PCR test using respiratory secretions,
usually nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. Mild cases can be managed at home with
self-isolation, symptomatic treatment and follow-up if the disease worsens. Contact tracing is
very important. Observed case fatality is between 0.5% and 4%, but may be overestimated as
mild cases are not always counted. Primary care providers must give clear, accurate and
consistent messages on infection prevention and control in communities and homes.
Description
CITATION: Mash, B. 2020. Primary care management of the coronavirus (COVID-19). South African Family Practice, 31;62(1):e1-e4, doi:10.4102/safp.v62i1.5115.
The original publication is available at https://safpj.co.za
The original publication is available at https://safpj.co.za
Keywords
Coronaviruses -- South Africa, COVID-19 (Disease) -- South Africa, Primary care (Medicine) -- Practice -- South Africa
Citation
Mash, B. 2020. Primary care management of the coronavirus (COVID-19). South African Family Practice, 31;62(1):e1-e4, doi:10.4102/safp.v62i1.5115.