Changing Trends in COVID-19 Symptomatology: A Survey-Based Analysis

Abstract

India currently ranks the highest in the world with over 3.86 lakhs new COVID-19 cases per day. With a spike in the number of cases in the second wave of COVID-19 in 2021 compared to the first wave of the outbreak in 2020, there have been varied clinical manifestations among masses. This study aimed to determine the changing trends in prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study among 166 individuals was carried out using a self-designed survey-based questionnaire. Two groups were made on the basis of symptoms and compared: Group A- patients who tested COVID-19 positive in 2020 and Group B- patients who tested COVID-19 positive in 2021. 130 participants (78.31%) had tested positive for COVID-19, out of which 110 (84.62%) were symptomatic and 20 (15.38%) were asymptomatic. Fever was the most common presenting symptom (27.69%) followed by difficulty in breathing (24.62%). Group A individuals (n = 37), reported fever as the most common presenting symptom (45.95%), followed by body ache (13.51%); while those in Group B (n = 93) reported difficulty in breathing (33.33%) followed by fever (20.43%). The most common general symptoms were fever and difficulty in breathing while sore throat, cough and anosmia were the most common ENT symptoms. 57.83% had been vaccinated out of which 38.55% experienced symptoms post-vaccination. The prevalence of symptoms in the first and second wave of the pandemic can help in better understanding of the changing symptomatology of SARS-CoV-2 virus.

SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in research personnel with asymptomatic infection in the pre-vaccination stage

“…This group constituted a vehicle of infection for their contacts, as it has been reported in other studies during the first and second waves. 18 We detected the following limitations in the study:…”