History & examination factors
Key diagnostic factors
fever (common)
• Reported in 83% to 98% of patients in case series.[4] [5] [6]
• Children may not present with fever.[8]
• Patients may present with chills/rigors.
• The course of fever is not fully understood yet.
cough (common)
• Reported in 59% to 82% of patients in case series.[4] [5] [6]
• Cough is usually dry.
dyspnoea (common)
• Reported in 31% to 55% of patients in case series.[4] [5] [6]
• Median time from onset of symptoms to development of dyspnoea is 5 to 8 days.[4] [5] [6]
Other diagnostic factors
fatigue (common)
• Reported in 44% to 69% of patients in case series.[4] [6]
• Patients may also report malaise.
myalgia (common)
• Reported in 11% to 44% of patients in case series
anorexia (common)
• Reported in 40% of patients in case series.[6]
sputum production (common)
• Reported in 26% to 28% of patients in case series.[4] [6]
sore throat (common)
• Reported in 5% to 17% of patients in case series, and usually presents early in the clinical course.[5]
[6]
confusion (uncommon)
• Reported in 9% of patients in case series.[5]
dizziness (uncommon)
• Reported in 9% of patients in case series.[6]
headache (uncommon)
• Reported in 6% to 8% of patients in case series.[4] [5] [6]
haemoptysis (uncommon)
• Reported in 5% of patients in case series.[4]
rhinorrhoea (uncommon)
• Reported in 4% of patients in case series.[5]
chest pain (uncommon)
• Reported in 2% to 5% of patients in case series.[4] [5]
• May indicate pneumonia.
gastrointestinal symptoms (uncommon)
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea have been reported in 1% to 10% of patients in case series, although
this may be underestimated.[4] [5] [6] One case series reported gastrointestinal symptoms in nearly
40% of patients.[7]
• Abdominal pain has been reported in 2% of patients in case series.[6]
• Patients may present with nausea or diarrhoea 1 to 2 days prior to onset of fever and breathing
difficulties.[6]
bronchial breath sounds (uncommon)
• May indicate pneumonia.
tachypnoea (uncommon)
• May be present in patients with acute respiratory distress.
tachycardia (uncommon)
• May be present in patients with acute respiratory distress.
cyanosis (uncommon)
• May be present in patients with acute respiratory distress.
crackles/rales on auscultation (uncommon)
• May be present in patients with acute respiratory distress.