Back ground: Severe respiratory tract infection caused by family of Corona viruses has become world pandemic and is claiming many lives. In this study we have described the first 33 cases diagnosed, admitted and treated in Ethiopia COVID treatment center with the aim of contributing some information to the local and global effort of controlling the pandemic. Method: Descriptive study was conducted on the first 33 consecutive RT-PCR confirmed COVID 19 cases diagnosed and managed at Ekka-Kotebe COVID treatment center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Result: Data of the first 33 COVID 19 confirmed patients treated at Ekka-kotebe COVID treatment center was analyzed. The median age of the cases was 36 years. Cough, headache and fever were the most frequent symptoms in the firs 33 COVID 19 cases reported in this study. Diarrhea, sore throats, loss of taste and/or smell sensation were among the rare symptoms. Most (84.8%) had mild to moderate disease and 15.2%(n = 5) were critical at the time of admission. Among the five ICU admissions, four patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. Both mild and moderate cases were managed in the general ward with or without low flow oxygen treatment. Thirty cases were discharged after two pairs of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples turned negative for SARS CoV2. Three cases from the ICU died while on mechanical ventilator. Age of the two deaths was 65 years and one was 60 years. With the exception of three, all cases were either imported from abroad or had contact with confirmed case.
Clinical and Sociodemographic Profile of the First 33 COVID 19 Cases Treated at Dedicated Treatment Center in Ethiopia