Coronavirus variant causing second wave, very stealthy RT-PCR tests, say doctors

The new variant of the coronavirus responsible for the second wave of Covid-19 is not only highly contagious but also stealthy, doctors say.

Hospitals treating Covid-19 patients have said that even when a patient exhibited typical symptoms of the disease, they tested negative for the viral infection, sometimes two or three times even by RT-PCR – which is considered the gold standard for Covid testing.

“We have seen many such patients over the past few days. They had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and a CT scan of the lungs showed patches that were lighter or gray in color. We speak of uneven opacity of ground glass in medical terms. . The condition is one of the defining characteristics of Covid-19, ”said Dr Aashish Chaudhry, CEO of Aakash Healthcare. The time of India.

In order to confirm the infections, some of the patients underwent bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), a diagnostic method in which a flexible bezel is passed through the mouth or nose into the lungs with a measured amount of fluid introduced and then collected for examination, which confirmed the diagnosis of infection, he added.

However, all patients who had tested negative by conventional Covid-19 testing methods but whose symptoms turned positive during the washout test, he stressed.

Explaining what could be the cause, Dr Pratibha Kale, associate professor of clinical microbiology at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, told TOI that it is possible that in these patients, the virus may not have not colonized the nasal cavity or throat because of which swab samples were taken from these areas did not give a positive result. “The virus attached itself to ACE receptors, a protein found on the surface of many types of cells in the lungs and that is why when the organ fluid samples were analyzed it confirmed the diagnosis of Covid-19, “she said.

One of the major repercussions of this, such patients may continue to spread the infection if they are admitted to non-Covid areas, and this may also delay treatment, said Dr Vivek Nangia, head of the division. of pulmonology at Max Healthcare. . Almost 15-20% of Covid-19 patients suffered from this problem, he added.

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