Urtė Venclovaitė¹, Viktorija Sabaitytė²

¹Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Academy of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,

Department of Radiology, Kaunas, Lithuania

²Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania 

Abstract

Human coronaviruses are positive chain RNR viruses and belong to Coronaviridae family. Three types of coronaviruses were transmitted from animals to humans resulting in epidemic and global pandemic in the last twenty years. The clinical course of these infections vary from completely asymptomatic or mild respiratory symptoms to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes.

The main diagnostic method for all 3 types of viruses is Reverse transcriptase – Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Other laboratory tests and imaging methods are helpful for following clinical course of infection and diagnosing complications caused by it but are not necessary for the initial diagnosis.  Aim: The purpose of this analysis is to discuss the main clinical findings, laboratory and radiological diagnostic methods for SARS-CoV-1, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2. Methods: the review of literature was managed by using “PubMed” medical database, selecting publications which investigated coronavirus pneumonia clinical features, laboratory and radiology diagnostics. Conclusion: after review of the literature clinical symptoms, laboratory and radiology examination are presented.

Keywords: coronavirus pneumonia, clinical features, radiology diagnostics, laboratory tests, SARS, MERS, COVID-19.