COVID-19 was initially described as a respiratory disease of unknown origin. Its description then evolved into a viral disease with an unusual form of pneumonia. In the evolution of the disease, different specialists reported multiple symptoms and signs which could mimic other medical conditions. Eventually, the disease was described as primarily of respiratory origin with a multi-systemic manifestation. This also serves as a reminder that the human body is a single working unit made up of systems that work in unison toward an ultimate result.
During the lockdown in the early phase of the pandemic, mankind was involved in a lot of introspection which led to some innovations. While I was in self-isolation for a week (after contact with a covid-19 positive colleague whose eyes I had examined before she was confirmed with the infection), the desire to have a single document that captures the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 from a multispecialty and multi-systemic approach was kindled. The authors of this book are specialist physicians and scientist of Nigerian origin who practice in different parts of the globe.
This book, conceived at the peak of the pandemic was intended to be published as a major review article for a medical journal. The inability to get a suitable journal led us back to the drawing board and we decided to expand the scope, enabling us to create this 19-chapter masterpiece. We do not claim or consider our work to be exhaustive on the subject, however, it has a broad specialty spread and we believe each chapter will direct any reader to the reference materials needed to clarify any scientific detail summarized in this book.
