Manifestations of the flu syndrome in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Infection caused by the new Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) causes a variable clinical picture. Due to its high transmissibility, Covid-19 was declared a pandemic. In view of this, in Brazil, the Ministry of Education (MEC) published an ordinance that temporarily suspended face-to-face activities at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Despite this and other measures, the number of cases and deaths in Brazil has, so far, increased exponentially, a fact that impacts the health and educational authorities, due to the exceptionality imposed on the development of teaching activities. In view of this context, the present study aimed to measure the frequency of the Flu Syndrome in medical students from Mato Grosso do Sul during the Covid-19 pandemic period, in order to propose resolutions for conducting academic activities. A descriptive, observational and cross-sectional study carried out among students enrolled in medical courses in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The data were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire, online and based on the Google Forms platform. Descriptive results were prepared automatically, from the platform itself. Result: 371 responses were computed. Approximately 50% had flu-like symptoms, the most common of which were runny nose, nasal obstruction and cough. Among the diagnoses reported, the most described was rhinosinusitis, with 7 participants presenting Covid-19. It was possible to measure the condition of flu-like syndrome among medical students in this state, seeking to provide support and possible basis for decision-making by the coordinators of medical courses in Mato Grosso do Sul regarding the referral of academic activities. Keywords: Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; Students, Medical; Disease Notification; Prevalence. Resumo A infeccao causada pelo novo Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) causa quadro clinico variavel. Devido a sua alta transmissibilidade, decretou-se estado de pandemia pela Covid-19. Diante disto, no Brasil, o Ministerio da Educacao (MEC) publicou portaria que suspendeu, temporariamente, as atividades presenciais nas Instituicoes de Ensino Superior (IES). Apesar desta e de outras medidas, o numero de casos e obitos no Brasil continua, ate o momento, aumentando de forma exponencial, fato que impacta as autoridades sanitarias e educacionais, pela excepcionalidade imposta no desenvolvimento das atividades de ensino. Em face deste contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo mensurar a frequencia da Sindrome Gripal em academicos de medicina do Mato Grosso do Sul durante o periodo da pandemia da Covid-19, para assim, propor resolucoes para conducao das atividades academicas. Um estudo descritivo, observacional e transversal, realizado entre estudantes matriculados nos cursos de medicina do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Os dados foram obtidos por questionario semiestruturado, online e assentado na plataforma Google Forms. Os resultados descritivos foram elaborados automaticamente, a partir da propria plataforma. Computou-se 371 respostas. Aproximadamente 50% apresentaram algum sintoma gripal, sendo os mais comuns: coriza, obstrucao nasal e tosse. Entre os diagnosticos informados, o mais descrito foi rinossinusite, sendo que 7 participantes apresentaram Covid-19. Foi possivel mensurar o quadro de sindrome gripal, entre estudantes de medicina neste estado, buscando proporcionar apoio e eventual embasamento para a tomada de decisoes das coordenacoes dos cursos de medicina do Mato Grosso do Sul quanto aos encaminhamentos das atividades academicas. Palavras-chave: Coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; Estudantes de medicina; Notificacao de Doencas; Prevalencia.