Recurrence or Relapse of COVID ‐19 in Older Patients: A Description of Three Cases
Résumé
BACKGROUND COVID‐19 has infected millions of people worldwide, particularly in older adults. The first cases of possible reinfection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) were reported in April 2020 among older adults. DESIGN/SETTING In this brief report, we present three geriatric cases with two episodes of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection separated by a symptom‐free interval. PARTICIPANTS The participants of this brief report are three cases of hospitalized geriatric women. MEASUREMENTS/RESULTS We note clinical and biological worsening during the second episode of COVID‐19 for all three patients. Also, there is a radiological aggravation. The second episode of COVID‐19 was fatal in all three cases. CONCLUSION This series of three geriatric cases with COVID‐19 diagnosed two times apart for several weeks questions the possibility of reinfection with SARS‐CoV‐2. It raises questions in clinical practice about the value of testing for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection again in the event of symptomatic reoccurrence. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:2179–2183, 2020.