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

Imran Irshad; Zaheer Ahmed Gill; Khalil Ahmad; Bismillah Sehar; Muhammad Tawab Khalil; Umer Younas

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v74i4.9120

Authors

Imran Irshad Department of Rehab Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine/ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Zaheer Ahmed Gill Department of Rehab Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine/ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Khalil Ahmad Department of Rehab Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine/ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Bismillah Sehar Department of Community Medicine, Bradford Shire University United Kingdom
Muhammad Tawab Khalil Department of Rehab Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine/ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Umer Younas Department of Rehab Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine/ National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v74i4.9120

Keywords:

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

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.

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