key: cord-1015050-s7vw6670
authors: Mazouz, Salim; Aissaoui, Ouissal; Fehdi, Mohamed Anass; Nsiri, Afak; AlHarrar, Rachid
title: COVID-19 suspicion revealed to be fat embolism syndrome
date: 2020-06-17
journal: Pan Afr Med J
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2020.36.104.23631
sha: 98f7bcd401881c0c136ad292fbf71ba70243d50d
doc_id: 1015050
cord_uid: s7vw6670

The novel coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, responsible of the COVID-19 is now causing a pandemic. Detecting all possible cases and eliminating differential diagnoses in front of any acute respiratory distress has become a daily challenge for doctors around the world. We believe that non-COVID patients are the hidden victims of the actual health problematic. We report from this manuscript the case of a patient with fat embolism syndrome that has been suspected as COVID-19.

The novel Coronavirus, named SARS-CoV-2, is responsible of the COVID-19. It is a viral pneumonia that appeared in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and is now causing a pandemic. Nowadays, doctors around the world are facing a great challenge, dealing with COVID-19 patients, but also, not misdiagnosing non-COVID patients. In fact, we believe that non-COVID patients are the hidden victims of the actual health problematic. Several patients with respiratory distress are wrongly suspected as COVID-19. Fat embolism syndrome (FES) is a rare incident, in post-traumatic bone injuries. It might occur in post-operatory bone surgeries. We report the case of a patient with FES that has been suspected as COVID-19 patient. We also noted a drop in total cholesterol to 1.22 g/L and a low HDL level at 0.33 g/L. The renal and hepatic function, the electrolytes and the plasma procalcitonin were moreover without particularity. overlap with other respiratory diseases [2] , and the selection of appropriate detection techniques and methods for accurate and rapid identification of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA test, therefore plays a key role in improving the diagnosis of the patients [3] . Fat embolism syndrome is a differential diagnosis that should not be ruled out especially when faced with respiratory distress in a patient surgically treated for a tibial fracture. The radiological findings in FES are similar to those in COVID-19 [4] .

Differential diagnoses of SARS-CoV-2 infection are a real challenge for doctors, and a bundle of arguments makes it possible to differentiate between each.

Salim Mazouz and Mohamed Anass Fehdi: drafting of manuscript.

Ouissal Aissaoui and Afak Nsiri: critical revision. Rachid Alharrar: final approval. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript. 

Effective management of femur fracture using damage control orthopedics following fat embolism syndrome

e7455. PubMed | Google Scholar

Jianxun Lyu et al. « CT differential diagnosis of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 in symptomatic suspects: a practical scoring method

Laboratory testing techniques for SARS-CoV-2 ». Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao

Fat embolism syndrome

Figure 1: findings on computed tomography (CT) on admission showing no evidence of detectable pulmonary embolism

The authors declare no competing interests.