Over the last few months, several clinical studies have been published that have shown that Covid-19 causes neurological complications in about 25% of patients.
Almost 40% of patients who have contracted Covid-19 attest to suffering from neurological disorders of various types and severity.
The most common and milder symptoms caused by the new coronavirus infection are headaches, disturbances in the perception of taste and smell, blurring of the mind and memory disturbances.
Among the complications of greater severity, however, the most common are:
- Diffuse brain damage of an inflammatory or metabolic type with acute onset, called metabolic-toxic encephalopathies;
- Guillain-barrè syndrome, an acquired inflammatory neuropathy that tends to resolve in most cases;
- Brain stroke;
- Seizures.
In addition, some patients develop anxiety and mood disorders, partly attributable to changes in social relationships and impaired individual well-being. Read More: What Does An Orthopedic Traumatologist Treat?
How can infection with SARS-CoV-2 lead to neurological damage?
There are several mechanisms by which Covid-19 can cause neurological consequences, however, you can prevent getting affected from such things by timely consulting a neurologist of Popular Hospital.
One of the first initially hypothesized is that of the direct invasion of the central nervous system by the pathogen.
In fact, the ACE-2 receptors, to which the coronavirus binds to enter the host organism, cover both the cells of the olfactory bulbs, beyond the nasal mucosa, and those of the brainstem, which is located at the base of the brain.
These two positions both represent two potential “brain inputs” for the coronavirus.
At present, however, most of the studies that have evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the fluid that permeates the central nervous system, called cerebrospinal fluid, in the brains of patients who have died from Covid-19, have not found strong evidence of a direct invasion.
Instead, there is evidence of indirect damage due to the coronavirus. First, as is well known, Covid-19 disease is characterized by severe respiratory problems. Respiratory failure can result in reduced oxygen supply and, consequently, brain damage due to hypoxia.
Another indirect mechanism by which Covid-19 can cause neurological disorders is related to the inflammatory response.
In an attempt to try to defend against the coronavirus attack, an inflammatory response is triggered in patients.
When the response is appropriate, the patient is defended; when, on the other hand, the response is insufficient or in some way unregulated and excessive, the patient can even be harmed.
A prolonged inflammatory state, in fact, makes the blood brain barrier weaker. This tissue, which is supposed to protect the brain by preventing the entry of potentially toxic substances present in the blood, does not work as it should and allows the “invasion” of the brain.
This phenomenon triggers theneuroinflammation which, if excessive and/or protracted, can itself induce brain damage.
Who is a neurologist and why consult him?
A neurologist is a doctor who diagnoses and treats diseases of the nervous system, spine, cerebral vessels, etc. The most common reasons for making an appointment with a neurologist in adult patients are:
- Regular headaches, dizziness;
- Pain in the neck, back, lower back;
- Head trauma (concussion).
Common reasons for visiting a paediatric neurologist:
- Anxiety in a child, sleep disturbance, frequent headache;
- Convulsions with and without fever, fainting;
- Lag in speech or development, poor memory and school performance.
If you’re suffering from COVID-19 symptoms or having post-COVID-19 neurological disorder, then our advice for you is to quickly consult the expert team of neurologists at Popular Hospital, the best hospital in Varanasi. Contacting a neurologist is a must for everyone who is facing neurological problems as not getting treated only worsens the situation for the patient.