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Two new investigations change the identity of asymptomatic patients: how many are they really and what is their viral load
the asymptomatic, since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, they have always played a crucial role in the spread of the disease, as they are not subject to isolation and unknowingly carry the virus. To do this, new studies have tried to clarify and answer the questions: how many? What is your viral load? How to detect them? To clarify, as reported by Ansa, a Swiss study and one from Seoul published in the magazine Thorax.
How many asymptomatic are there: the Swiss study
According to the Swiss researchers, in a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, the proportion of asymptomatic patients in circulation may be lower than previously thought and not 20% of cases.
Their study is based on a review of 79 studies already published on Covid-19 for a total of 6,616 people involved, of which 1,287 were defined as asymptomatic.
Therefore, it emerged that the true asymptomatic amounted to 20% of the people positive for the virus, and therefore they are a minority stake compared to what has been believed so far.
The amount of virus in asymptomatic patients: a Korean study sheds light
Although the asymptomatic could represent only 20% of the total number of infected, their contribution to the transmission of the virus is tangible: viral load contained in the nose and chest, in fact, is the same of a person with classic symptoms.
This was revealed by a study by Joon Seo Lim of the Center for Clinical Research, Asan Institute of Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, published in the journal Thorax.
The investigation was carried out in a group of 213 people who were positive for the virus: of these, almost 20% were asymptomatic six days after the first swab (41). The swab was also repeated on the thirteenth day and it was observed that all positives, even in the absence of symptoms, had a comparable viral load.
“Considering that the majority of asymptomatic people infected with SARS-CoV-2 are not likely to be intercepted and therefore continue to live their usual lives (in short, they escape isolation), these people could play a role essential in the transmission of the virus, responsible for COVID-19 and therefore in the continuation of the pandemic, ”the authors wrote.
What to do to identify the asymptomatic? The Italian response
To identify the positives in time, we must make use of all available tests – even quick ones – and try increasing the volume of diagnostic tests. The one who suggests it is Roberto Cauda, director of the UOC for Infectious Diseases at the Gemelli IRCCS Polyclinic in Rome and professor of Infectious Diseases at the Catholic University.
VIRGILIO NEWS | 09/23/2020 07:33
Photo Source: Ansa
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