Some COVID-19 patients experience neurological symptoms

A study released last week out of China revealed what many ER doctors have already noticed: Patients who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 sometimes experience neurological symptoms as a result of the infection. Some patients around the world have complained about experiencing days of severe headaches or buzzing, fizzing, tingling and painful burning sensations.

Coronaviruses, in general, are known to cause brain and nerve problems. Secondary infections can do the same with any virus. Additionally, a COVID-19 patient can experience these symptoms if organs like the brain fail to receive enough oxygen because oxygen levels in the blood drop too low.

In the report, one out of every three COVID-19 patients in a sample group of 214 patients experienced neurological issues even if they didn’t have a cough, fever, or breathing difficulties. These symptoms also sometimes occurred early in the infection. The numbers:

– 13 per cent experienced headaches
– 19 per cent experienced nerve-related physical inflammation, pain or other sensations
– 17 per cent experienced dizziness.

Patients also commonly lost their senses of taste and smell. In the most severe symptom cases, some patients experienced ataxia, impaired consciousness, seizures, stroke, and vision problems.

A lot is still unknown about SARS-CoV-2. Other health conditions can also cause these symptoms. People should consult with their doctors before automatically assuming that any of these symptoms are related to the virus.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-neurological-symptoms-headaches_l_5e90c1b7c5b6c81e2e7a4e57
https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/85915
https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200410/brain-affected-in-1-in-3-cases-of-severe-covid-19#1
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-patients-have-suffered-strokes-and-other-neurological-symptoms-says-study-11972707
https://www.today.com/health/do-coronavirus-symptoms-include-fizzing-tingling-or-burning-sensation-t178475
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2764549?guestAccessKey=4acaca6e-7090-4008-acf2-54ded1321cfe&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=041020