Scientists: Mildly Affected Or Recovering COVID-19 Patients Could Suffer Fatal Brain Disorders


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Pretty soon, you know that all news sources will pretty much go back to only having one thing to talk about.

Yep, our old nemesis, the COVID-19.

It’s one well worth talking about for sure, though.

As Sun Tzu once said, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.

It sounds a lot more catchy and poetic in Chinese.

But yes, the more we know, the better chance we have of coming out victorious and healthy.

So, what’s the latest news?

Possible Serious Brain Disorders Triggered by Coronavirus

What. The. F**k?!

Image: Giphy

Yep, as if the coronavirus wasn’t scary enough, we may need to add a new symptom and aftereffect to its list.

Neurologists have been publishing findings where more than 40 COVID-19 patients from the UK have experienced complications ranging from brain inflammation to nerve damage and stroke.

For example, one patient with no history of mental illness started showing odd behaviour one day after being discharged.

In another case, a woman became drowsy and unresponsive after she was admitted to the hospital for a headache and numbness in her right hand.

She eventually underwent surgery to remove a part of her skull to relieve pressure on her swollen brain.

Image: Gfycat

Their studies have also shown a rise in a condition known as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) seemingly correlated with the spread of the coronavirus through the nation.

Symptoms May Not Show For Years

According to Michael Zandi, a senior author on the study and a consultant at the institute and University College London Hospitals NHS foundation trust, “We’re seeing things in the way COVID-19 affects the brain that we haven’t seen before with other viruses.

He also said that more studies and research is required before they can figure out what’s going on.


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However, one concern was that some patients may see subtle effects that would only gradually surface in years to come, resulting in a hidden pandemic.

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But of course, it is not their intent to scare us. After all, these do appear to be preliminary findings with nothing conclusive.

Only a small number of patients appear to experience such complications, according to David Strain, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School.

However, their aim is simply to bring this to the attention of healthcare professionals worldwide to take better notice of any signs they may be missing, such as patients with cognitive symptoms, memory problems, fatigue, numbness, or weakness, and refer them to neurologists.

But they have started to prepare rehabilitation programs focusing on both physical aspects as well as the brain.


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Meanwhile, the best we can do is stay safe and let the experts do what they do best.