Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb

Published in International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 5, Issue 2)

Received: 8 April 2020 Accepted: 24 April 2020 Published: 15 May 2020

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Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24^th 2020 to April 1^st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.

Published in	International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy (Volume 5, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
Page(s)	29-33
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, CORONAVIRUS, Case Fatality Rate, Iraq

References

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[5]	Pneumonia of unknown cause — China: disease outbreak news. Geneva: World Health Organization, January 5^th 2020 (https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-January-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/).
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APA Style

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. (2020). Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 5(2), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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ACS Style

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2020, 5(2), 29-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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AMA Style

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2020;5(2):29-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12,
  author = {Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb},
  title = {Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-33},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  abstract = {Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals
AU  - Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb
Y1  - 2020/05/15
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 29
EP  - 33
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
AB  - Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb

Department of surgery, College of medicine, Al-Iraqia Univerity, Baghdad, Iraq

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Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. (2020). Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 5(2), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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ACS Style

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. Int. J. Infect. Dis. Ther. 2020, 5(2), 29-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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AMA Style

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb. Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals. Int J Infect Dis Ther. 2020;5(2):29-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12,
  author = {Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb},
  title = {Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals},
  journal = {International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy},
  volume = {5},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-33},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijidt.20200502.12},
  abstract = {Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.},
 year = {2020}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Analysis of COVID-19 Outbreak in Iraq from the Perspective of Doctors Working in Iraqi Hospitals
AU  - Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb
Y1  - 2020/05/15
PY  - 2020
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
T2  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JF  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
JO  - International Journal of Infectious Diseases and Therapy
SP  - 29
EP  - 33
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-966X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijidt.20200502.12
AB  - Background: The COVID-19 is an enveloped RNA enveloped beta coronavirus. In Iraq there were more than 700 cases officially reported for the period from February 24th 2020 to April 1st 2020 and the case fatality rate was 7.1%. This study aims to determine the most common clinical characteristics of patients who are confirmed as COVID-19 positive in Iraq, as well as to understand the underlying causes which make Iraq have one of the highest case-fatality rates in the world. Methods: A total of 128 doctors working in Iraqi hospitals participated in this study through answering a questionnaire that has been prepared for this purpose. The questionnaire included a set of questions related to the symptoms of the disease, hospital procedures, the level of these procedures and major obstacles. A total of 108 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 enrolled in this study to understand the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Iraq. Result: The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in Iraq were: fever (seen in 85.2% of patients), cough (55.6%), shortness of breath (31.5%), fatigue (27.8%), headache (7.4%), diarrhea (1.9%), and (9.3%) were asymptomatic. Initial chest X-rays were abnormal in (63%) and lymphopenia was seen in (72.2%). Most of the doctors (76.2%) complained from the unclear guidelines regarding COVID-19 screening and (17.7%) of suspected cases were not tested for COVID-19. Conclusion: The high fatality rate which seen in Iraq is related to the low level of awareness and late presentation of the patients, in addition to the limited number of the COVID-19 screening tests, unclear guidelines regarding the patients who should be enrolled for the COVID-19 testing, and finally, many of the suspected cases which were reported by doctors were not provided with the necessary tests to confirm the diagnosis. All these together contribute to high fatality rate.
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
ER  -

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