Misclassification of Asymptomatic Infections of COVID-19
Verner N. Orish *
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho Volta Region, Ghana.
Duniesky Martinez Lopez
Department Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho Volta Region, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Several cases of asymptomatic infections of COVID-19 being reported by several countries in this pandemic and with the recent conflicting information of asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19, it is important to look critically on the true nature of these reported asymptomatic infections. There is a possibility most of the reported asymptomatic infections of COVID-19 are not truly asymptomatic but are either presymptomatic, mild infections or infections in the post-symptomatic phase.
Results: These infections misclassified as asymptomatic infections can result in misleading findings in studies attempting to understand asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19.
Conclusion: It is therefore crucial that rigorous and detailed data be collected during contact tracing to accurately identify and classify asymptomatic infections COVID-19.
Keywords: COVID-19, mild infections, presymptomatic infection