Correct picture of mortality only if we report and notify clinical cases |

Editorial

Correct picture of mortality only if we report and notify clinical cases

Dr KK Aggarwal, 14 February 2020
1040 Views
#Multispeciality

New Classification of COVID 19

The same should be the rule: Notify suspect, clinically confirmed and lab-confirmed

The mortality of COVID 19 is 2% but the same is < 1% if we go outside China. China up till now was underreporting COVID 19 cases as only lab-confirmed cases were reported. People will only go to labs if they have breathless or fear.

In flu, there is a diction - no breathless no admission and no lab test. This is to reduce the cost due to investigations.

The mortality of dengue is also much lower than what is projected in the media because media reports only lab-confirmed cases based on the current policy of reporting only ELISA-positive cases. This does not include the larger segment of clinically diagnosed cases or cases confirmed with the rapid test.

Now, even China has started including the clinically diagnosed cases in COVID 19 as it’s a waste of resources if you test all clinical mild cases.

The same should be the policy for dengue, flu and other related illnesses. If we do that, then only the correct mortality will be reflected.

Today, if you see the headlines, it says: 100 cases of dengue reported, 2 deaths. It creates fear, the correct mortality of dengue is 1 per 1000.

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA