Patna: ‘Covid patients may face neurological problems’

PATNA: As Covid-19 is considered a respiratory disease, researchers say it invades the brain cells of some patients. “The virus seems to suck up all the oxygen nearby, starving neighbouring cells to death,” a new study conducted by the Yale University said.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar, nodal officer for Covid-19 at AIIMS-Patna, said SARS-Cov-2, the virus that caused Covid-19, can damage brain causing cerebral vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessel wall) involving brain and occasionally the spinal cord or thrombus in blood vessels which obstructs blood supply to brain tissues.
“Thrombus leads to ischemic changes in brain tissues, which may cause brain stroke. This can also result in weakness of upper and lower limb or even paralysis. However, there are less than 1% of cured patients, who suffered from cerebral vasculitis or thrombus. Because the chances of virus crossing the blood brain barrier are very less. But Covid patients also suffered from other neurological problems like insomnia, anxiety and depression,” Dr Sanjeev said.
“The recent study, however, does not make it clear how the virus gets into the brain,” he said.
Dr Santosh Kumar, deputy superintendent of NMCH-Patna, said some of the severe Covid patients, whose oxygen saturation level went down, often experienced confusion or delirium when put on ventilator support, BiPAP or CPAP machines. “Anxiety, depressive syndrome, anticipatory anxiety and insomnia are very common in those who recovered from the virus,” he said.
He emphasized that coronavirus causes neurological involvement, as several patients experienced distress post-Covid recovery. “When the virus enters the blood streams, it doesn’t spare the central nervous system. There are also low chances of cerebral vasculitis, thrombus and brain stroke,” he said.
Neurosurgeon Dr Brajesh Kumar said there are instances about brain stroke or haemorrhage in Covid patients. However, it was not clear whether the virus caused these problems. “The Covid recovered patients, who suffered from thrombus, should take blood thinner on doctor’s prescription to prevent blood clotting. Diabetic and hypertension patients should keep it under control,” he said.