Brain damage epidemic may be a possibility because of COVID-19 complication, say experts

A new study says that a rare and sometimes fatal inflammatory condition, known as ADEM, is increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read on to know more.

By: Jahnavi Sarma | | Published: July 9, 2020 2:30 pm

ADEM is rare and typically seen in children and can be triggered by viral infections. @Shutterstock

COVID-19 comes with many symptoms and complications. Many experts say that symptoms like headache, altered mental status, acute cerebrovascular disease and epilepsy are becoming common in COVID-19 patients with serious complications. Now a new study from the University College London (UCL) in the UK says that this virus can cause severe neurological complications, including delirium, brain inflammation, stroke and nerve damage. Published in the journal Brain, the research team identified one rare and sometimes fatal inflammatory condition, known as ADEM, which appears to be increasing in prevalence due to the pandemic. Also Read - New COVID-19 strain is here, protect yourself with three layered surgical masks: Experts

Neurological disorder and not respiratory distress may indicate infection

According to researchers, some patients in the study did not experience severe respiratory symptoms, and the neurological disorder was the first and main presentation of COVID-19. They say that they identified a higher than expected number of people with neurological conditions such as brain inflammation, which did not always correlate with the severity of respiratory symptoms. Also Read - COVID-19 surge continues in Maharashtra: Night curfew, full lockdown on weekends in Aurangabad

Neurological symptoms common, say experts

The current study provides a detailed account of neurological symptoms of 43 people (aged 16-85) treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, UCLH, who had either confirmed or suspected COVID-19. The researchers identified 10 cases of transient encephalopathies (temporary brain dysfunction) with delirium, which corresponds with other studies finding evidence of delirium with agitation. There were also 12 cases of brain inflammation, eight cases of strokes, and eight others with nerve damage, mainly Guillain-Barre syndrome (which usually occurs after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection). Most (nine out of 12 cases) of those with brain inflammation conditions were diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Also Read - CoWIN registration not a must for healthcare workers, front line warriors to get the COVID-19 vaccine

Doctors report increase in rare condition, ADEM

ADEM is rare and typically seen in children and can be triggered by viral infections. The team in London normally sees about one adult patient with ADEM per month, but that increased to at least one per week during the study period. In some patients, the researchers found evidence that the brain inflammation was likely caused by an immune response to the disease, suggesting that some neurological complications of COVID-19 might come from the immune response rather than the virus itself.

Virus not present in cerebrospinal brain fluid

The findings showed that the virus causing Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, was not detected in the cerebrospinal brain fluid of any of the patients tested. This suggests that the virus did not directly attack the brain to cause the neurological illness. According to the team, further research is needed to identify why patients were developing these complications. Researchers say that doctors needs to be aware of possible neurological effects, as early diagnosis can improve patient outcomes. People recovering from the virus should seek professional health advice if they experience neurological symptoms.

Brain abnormalities common in COVID-19

Recently, researchers from Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa showed that nearly 50 per cent of all COVID-19 patients, who were in the intensive care unit (ICU), had brain abnormalities on MRI scans. This was published in Radiology. This study says that around 6 per cent patients in ICU experience acute stroke and around 15 per cent develop an altered state of mind. According to researchers, this may be due to cytokine storm.

(With inputs from IANS)

Published : July 9, 2020 2:30 pm

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