The coronavirus can cause brain damage in patients as it triggers dangerous inflammation that can cause bleeding and cell death, studies have shown. Two patients in the US were among those to suffer neurological problems as a result. Scans revealed that their brains lost density and suffered bleeding.
These complications show cell death and lesions in the brain
Doctors around the world are growing concerned that patients currently dealing with the coronavirus may also eventually suffer damage to the brain from the disease.
New York Times has reported that one patient in Florida in his 70s lost the ability to speak. Another one, a female in her 50s had brain scans taken in Detroit that showed some of her brain cells had already died as a result of a rare complication. Other similar cases were also seen in China and Italy.
While these neurological complications seem to be targeting a small subset of infected people around the world, these reports have painted a very worrisome picture of possible effects in the long run.
A Henry Ford neurologist and member of the team that studied and diagnosed the woman, Dr. Elissa Fory said that "We need to be thinking of how we're going to incorporate patients with the severe neurological disease into our treatment paradigm. This complication is as devastating as severe lung disease."
She already suffered symptoms that are more serious than just a fever and cough
By the time the American woman checked into the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, she already had a fever, a cough, was experiencing lethargy, was disoriented and feeling confused. The doctors ran a bunch of diagnostic tests on her including some to test for the West Nile virus and chickenpox. She then tested positive for COVID-19.
Since these neurological symptoms are not typical for coronavirus, doctors performed a CT scan of her brain. The scans showed dark spots that indicate that some parts of her brain are now less dense than they normally should be when compared to a healthy brain. Either fluid had already built up, or a significant number of her brain cells had already died.
This patient's thalamus was also damaged. This part of the brain sends vital sensory information from the body to the cerebral cortex which processes signals. Other scans revealed that her brain also had liaisons and brain bleeding in her temporal lobes--these are in charge of memory and consciousness as well as sensations in the body.
Dr. Fory also said that "The team had suspected encephalitis at the outset, but then back-to-back CCT and MRI scans made the diagnosis. Encephalitis is a dangerous brain swelling condition that can come on as a result of any number of kinds of trauma, as well as severe infections."
Reports of these kinds of neurological complications have been sporadic in the United States so far. But in Italy, they have seen enough cases from one hospital to setup a NeuroCovid unit to admit patients who have had these conditions.
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