Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has emerged as a major global public health challenge. The virus is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets and can spread via asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic, and symptomatic individuals. The incubation period averages approximately five days, with most symptomatic cases developing within 11.5 days of exposure. Common clinical manifestations include fever, dry cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, while laboratory findings such as lymphopenia and elevated lactate dehydrogenase are frequently observed. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) remains the gold standard for diagnosis; however, false-negative results may occur due to variations in specimen quality and testing timing. Consequently, chest computed tomography (CT) has been widely employed as a complementary diagnostic tool, demonstrating characteristic findings such as ground-glass opacities and pulmonary consolidations. Despite extensive research on antiviral agents, immunotherapies, and repurposed drugs, no universally curative treatment has been established. Vaccination remains the most effective strategy for reducing disease transmission, severity, and mortality. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the epidemiology, transmission, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic interventions, and vaccine development related to COVID-19, highlighting ongoing challenges and future directions in disease management.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Pathogenesis; Molecular Diagnosis; Antiviral Therapy; Vaccine Development.