Introduction:

The disease caused by Coronavirus 2019 has impacted the world beyond the limits of public health three months after the first case was diagnosed in China. It currently affects 182 countries; hence it is was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

Objective:

To review the most important clinical-epidemiological aspects reported on this disease.

Findings:

The disease is transmitted by droplets of saliva between people and by contact with contaminated surfaces or faeces. The incubation period is up to 14 days, in which viral transmission can occur. It is characterized by a variable symptom spectrum, patients can remain asymptomatic or present symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, anosmia and dyspnea. Approximately 14% of cases present severe forms and 5% progresses to a critical state, associated with complications such as respiratory distress syndrome or septic shock. The confirmatory diagnosis is through real-time polymerase chain reaction studies in respiratory samples. There is no effective treatment, although medications are used, most of them as part of clinical trials.

Conclusions:

It is, in the last century, an unprecedented phenomenon regarding the number of people and countries it has affected and concerning the impact on the social and economic dynamics currently in the world.

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