COVID-19: Brain complications like strokes, delirium found in patients across the globe
Cases
of brain complications linked to COVID-19, like strokes, delirium, and other
neurological complications are reported from most countries where there have
been large outbreaks of the disease, a new study says.
According to the scientists, including those from the University of Liverpool in the UK, COVID-19 has been associated mostly with problems like difficulty breathing, fever, and cough. However, in a review of studies, published in The Lancet Neurology, the researchers said other problems such as confusion, stroke, inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, and nerve disease can also occur in COVID-19 patients.
According to the scientists, including those from the University of Liverpool in the UK, COVID-19 has been associated mostly with problems like difficulty breathing, fever, and cough. However, in a review of studies, published in The Lancet Neurology, the researchers said other problems such as confusion, stroke, inflammation of the brain, spinal cord, and nerve disease can also occur in COVID-19 patients.
In the
study, the researchers assessed patients hospitalised in the UK for COVID-19,
and found a range of neurological and psychiatric complications that may be
linked to the disease. They assessed COVID-19 studies from across the globe,
and found almost 1,000 patients with COVID-19-associated brain, spinal cord,
and nerve disease.
"Whilst
these complications are relatively uncommon, the huge numbers of COVID-19 cases
globally mean the overall number of patients with neurological problems is
likely to be quite large," said Suzannah Lant, a co-author of the study
from the University of Liverpool.
According
to the scientists, one of the complications found to be linked to COVID-19 is
encephalitis -- an inflammation and swelling of the brain.
"It
is really important that doctors around the world recognise that COVID-19 can
cause encephalitis and other brain problems, which often have potentially
devastating, life-changing consequences for patients," said Ava Easton,
another co-author of the study from the University of Liverpool.