Joshua Altman1, Cheree Padilla2, Asim Merchant2, Kirsty Freshwater3, Sarah Weinsztok4, James R Clugston2, Karen Fournier3, Katherine M Edenfield2. 1. Departments of Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 2. Department of Community Health and Family Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 3. University of Florida Student Health Care Center, Gainesville, Florida, USA. 4. Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation and prevalence of COVID-19 in a collegiate population at the time of initial recognition and testing. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all students tested for COVID-19 at the University of Florida Student Health Care Center between March 9th and April 17th, 2020, comprising the first 6 weeks after spring break. Results: Twenty-five of 296 students (8.4%) tested positive for COVID-19. No significant differences were seen between positive and negative students regarding travel history or known exposures. Students who tested positive more commonly experienced fatigue, congestion, nausea, chest pain, anosmia, ageusia, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, and new problems sleeping over the course of illness. Conclusion: Initial symptoms unreliably clinically distinguish COVID-19 from other viral illnesses amongst college students. Providers should continue to have a low threshold for testing, especially as universities have seen large surges in cases related to students returning to campus.
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical presentation and prevalence of COVID-19 in a collegiate population at the time of initial recognition and testing. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of all students tested for COVID-19 at the University of Florida Student Health Care Center between March 9th and April 17th, 2020, comprising the first 6 weeks after spring break. Results: Twenty-five of 296 students (8.4%) tested positive for COVID-19. No significant differences were seen between positive and negative students regarding travel history or known exposures. Students who tested positive more commonly experienced fatigue, congestion, nausea, chest pain, anosmia, ageusia, anorexia, abdominal discomfort, and new problems sleeping over the course of illness. Conclusion: Initial symptoms unreliably clinically distinguish COVID-19 from other viral illnesses amongst college students. Providers should continue to have a low threshold for testing, especially as universities have seen large surges in cases related to students returning to campus.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; Collegiate population; coronavirus; presenting symptoms; students
Authors: Mila Paunic; Simona Filipovic; Max Nieuwenhuis; Aleksandar Paunic; Marijana Pesic; Milena Tomasevic; Marija Obradović; Zorica Zikic; Vesna Laketic; Mirjana Mihajlovic; Tatjana Gazibara Journal: Med Princ Pract Date: 2022-02-15 Impact factor: 2.132