Neurologic Symptoms Are Very Common Among U.S. Coronavirus Patients, Study Says

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, so too does the disease’s list of known symptoms. At first, cough, fever and shortness of breath were thought to be its primary symptoms. Nine months in, that list now includes organ damage, skin conditions, gastrointestinal problems and issues of the brain and nervous system. A paper published Oct. 5 in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology is thought to be the first to examine the prevalence of neurologic symptoms in U.S. COVID-19 patients. Out of 509 people admitted to Chicago hospitals for coronavirus care this spring, 82% had a neurologic symptom at some point, according to the paper. The most common neurologic symptoms were muscle aches and headaches, which were experienced by about 45% and 38% of patients, respectively. Almost a third of the patients developed encephalopathy, an umbrella term that refers to alterations in brain structure or function. “The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; it can come with confusion, lethargy, memory loss and decreased cognitive ability. About 30% of patients experienced dizziness, while 16% lost their sense of taste and 11% lost their sense of smell. Very few patients experienced serious complications, like strokes or seizures. Months of anecdotal reports have suggested that neurologic symptoms are common, not only for patients currently infected with COVID-19 but also fo...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 Source Type: news