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

| Peer-Reviewed

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

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

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), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, CORONAVIRUS, Case Fatality Rate, Iraq

References

[1]	Huang C, Wang Y, Li X, et al. Clinical features of patients infected with 2019 novel coronavirus in Wuhan, China. Lancet 2020; 395: 497-506.
[2]	Lu R, Zhao X, Li J, et al. Genomic characterization and epidemiology of 2019 novel coronavirus: implications for virus origins and receptor binding. Lancet 2020; 395: 565-74.
[3]	Iraqi Ministry of health. Official page on February 24^th 2020 (https://moh.gov.iq/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=13908).
[4]	World Health Organization. WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the media briefing on COVID-19 – March 11^th 2020 (https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-COVID-19---11-march-2020).
[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/).
[6]	W. Guan, Z. Ni, Yu Huand their co-workers Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. February 28^th 2020. (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2002032).
[7]	Centers for disease control and prevention. March 14^th 2020 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
[8]	Ng, Marimuthu, Leo, and Lee.Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Returning Travelers from Wuhan, China. February 18^th 2020. (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2001899).
[9]	REUTERS investigations (The former minister of health). Iraq’s healthcare system is in crisis. March 2^nd 2020. (https://uk.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/iraq-health).
[10]	Iraqi Ministry of health. Official page On April 1^st 2020 (https://moh.gov.iq/index.php?name=News&file=article&id=14168).
[11]	Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. On April 1^st 2020 (https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html).
[12]	Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Emergency Response Epidemiology Team. Vital surveillances: the epidemiological characteristics of an outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus diseases (COVID-19)—China, 2020. China CDCWeekly. Accessed February 20^th 2020. (http://weekly.chinacdc.cn/en/article/id/e53946e2-c6c4-41e9- 9a9b-fea8db1a8f51).
[13]	Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report — 36. Geneva: World Health Organization, February 25^th 2020 (https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200225-sitrep-36-COVID-19.pdf?sfvrsn=2791b4e02).
[14]	World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) technical guidance: Laboratory testing for 2019-nCoV in humans (https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-%ADcoronavirus-%AD2019/technical-%ADguidance/laboratory-%ADguidance).
[15]	LaFleur-Brooks M. Exploring Medical Language: A Student-Directed Approach (7th Ed.). St. Louis, Missouri, US: Mosby Elsevier. (2008).
[16]	Joseph R. Biggs PhD, Dong-Er Zhang PhD, Molecular Basis of Lymphoid and Myeloid Diseases, Molecular Pathology (Second Edition), (2018).
[17]	Katie M. Boes, Amy C. Durham, -Bone Marrow, Blood Cells, and the Lymphoid/Lymphatic System, in Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease (Sixth Edition), (2017).
[18]	Iraqi Ministry of health. Official page On March 17^th 2020 (https://moh.gov.iq/index.php?name=News&file=article&id=14196).

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

@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}
}

Copy | Download

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  -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Omar Muayad Abdulkareem Al-Naqeeb

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

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

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

Copy | Download

@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}
}

Copy | Download

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  -

Copy | Download