Chest X-rays do not confirm if the patient has COVID-19 or not. For COVID-19 confirmation, swabs of the nose and throat are put through real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (rRT-PCR) testing. In medical cases, X-rays show whether the patient has junk in their lungs or not. For the first COVID-19 patient in the US, the patient had clear X-rays intially despite being positive for COVID-19. It was not until the evening of his 5th day in the hospital did his chest X-ray start to show pneumonia. From the X-ray perspective alone, a COVID-19 patient (atypical pneumonia) can look similar to a pneumonia patient.
First Case of COVID-19 in the US
Bruin,
Middle of February my two year old was admitted to the ER after my wife and I noticed a high heart and respiratory rate. We spent about 36 hours at the hospital. She tested positive for “a” Coronavirus and had pneumonia-like symptoms confirmed with X-Rays. Oxygen and IV administered and we were released after a day and a half.
Question - Is it possible that the presence of Covid-19 would create a positive test result for previously known Coronavirus’ tests? We’ve kept her home since but just curious.