What is a suspected COVID-19 case?

Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Maharashtra CHO - 2020

Explanation

The definition of a suspected COVID-19 case, based on widely adopted public health guidelines, includes two distinct clinical pathways.
The first pathway is the presence of both acute onset of fever AND cough.
The second pathway is the acute onset of three or more symptoms from a specified list (e.g., fever, cough, fatigue, headache).
Since both options A and B describe these valid and separate criteria, the option that includes both (Option C) is the most complete and correct answer.

Option A: This option is incomplete. While 'acute onset of fever and cough' is one of the criteria for a suspected case, it is not the only one.
Option B: This option is also incomplete. While having three or more specific symptoms is a valid criterion, it is not the only definition for a suspected case.
Option D: This is incorrect because both options A and B represent valid, widely recognized clinical criteria for classifying a suspected case of COVID-19.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical case definition of COVID-19 as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Early and accurate identification of suspected COVID-19 cases is critical for nurses to initiate appropriate infection control measures, such as isolation and use of PPE, to prevent transmission to other patients and healthcare workers.
Promptly classifying a patient as a suspected case triggers the protocol for diagnostic testing (e.g., RT-PCR), which is essential for confirming the diagnosis and guiding clinical management.
What if? A patient presents with only a new, sudden loss of smell (anosmia) and no other symptoms. According to some guidelines, this specific symptom alone could classify them as a 'probable case' even without meeting the 'suspected case' criteria, highlighting the need to know all case definitions.

How to Approach the Question

First, read the question carefully to understand that it is asking for the definition of a 'suspected COVID-19 case'.
This is a factual recall question based on public health guidelines. Access your knowledge of these definitions.
Evaluate Option A ('Acute onset of fever and cough'). Recognize this as a correct criterion.
Evaluate Option B ('Acute onset of any 3 or more symptoms...'). Recognize this as another correct criterion.
Since both A and B are individually correct parts of the overall definition, look for an option that combines them.
Option C ('A and B') is the most comprehensive and accurate choice because it acknowledges that both sets of criteria are used to identify a suspected case.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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