Descriptive Study of Clinical and Pulmonary Ultrasound Signs of Acute Respiratory Infections Associated With COVID-19 in Primary Care

COVID-19 infection are characterized by fever and signs of acute respiratory infection. A worsening of respiratory symptoms that can lead to respiratory failure. The decompensation can then be brutal and require rapid recourse to respiratory assistance. The contribution of clinical examination (auscultation and monitoring of oxygen saturation in particular) remains unsatisfactory in predicting an unfavorable course. The interest of pulmonary ultrasound is known in the management of pulmonary infections. However, estimating the severity of lung damage at an early stage could be of great help in monitoring and caring for patients. Ultrasound could meet this need in general practice, the chest scanner is often unavailable in these situations.

Ultrasound signs are associated with severe forms. The contribution of pulmonary ultrasound seems particularly interesting in the context of the reassessment of patients during the worsening phase of symptoms (D5-D10).

Estimate the prevalence of ultrasound signs in patients with an acute respiratory infection suspected or confirmed to be COVID-19, at the time of the worsening phase (between D5 and D10 of the onset of symptoms).

The prevalence of ultrasound lung lesions under COVID-19 may be essential to consider the development of the ultrasound tool in primary care. Indeed, if the contribution of ultrasound is now recognized in intensive care or emergency, its place in general medicine still raises questions.