COVID-19 and Other Viral Pneumonias

Objectıve: Distinguishing COVID-19 pneumonia, which shares common symptoms with other respiratory viruses, from other pneumonia types will be of utmost importance for maintaining the sustainability of health services, preventing long waiting times of patients at emergency services, and isolating. We compared patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and those with NONCOVID-19 pneumonia with a view to distinguishing COVID-19 pneumonia from other pneumonias. Methods: Our study retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who were admitted to the emergency service of training and research hospital in Ağrı, Turkey between April 1-July 1, 2020. In our study two groups: patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and those with other pneumonias (non COVID-19) were compared in terms of demographic characteristics, laboratory data, and thoracic computerized tomography (CT) findings. Results: Our study included 201 patients in the non COVID-19 group and 165 patients in the COVID-19 group. An analysis based on the CT findings showed that the rate of ground glass opacities (GGO) was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (P < 0.01). The rate of isolated lobar or segmental consolidation was significantly higher in the non COVID-19 group (P < 0.01). The lesions had a significantly higher rate of bilateral distribution and peripheral location in the COVID-19 group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the mortality rate (P = 0.469). Conclusıon: We believe that in order to differentiate COVID-19 pneumonia from other pneumonias, a rapid thoracic computed tomography scan can be performed in the emergency department to be successfully patient management.