brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Brain Dysfunction Related to COVID 19
Symptoms of Brain Dysfunction Related to COVID 19
About 80% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have neurologic symptoms. Many people have neurologic and psychologic symptoms in the 6 months after being hospitalized for COVID-19, especially if it is severe. During the first 4 weeks of infection, neurologic symptoms of COVID-19 may include headache, dizziness, muscle aches, fatigue, and the more specific symptom of COVID-19—loss of smell and taste. Several days after they are first infected, some people continue to become sicker and may become critically ill. They commonly become Delirium . People with delirium cannot concentrate, and they become confused. They may alternate between being alert one moment and drowsy the next. Delirious people may be agitated and hostile or sluggish and subdued. Occasionally, COVID-19 causes severe neurologic problems such as Ischemic Stroke , Disorders that affect nerves and muscles, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) , may occur in people with COVID-19. During recovery and/or as part of post-COVID syndrome, many people have at least one long-lasting neurologic symptom, such as chronic fatigue, general muscle aches, numbness and tingling, and unrefreshing sleep. Some people, even those with a mild case of COVID-19, have brain fog, which may involve problems with concentration, memory, understanding spoken and written language, and planning and making decisions. Many people have migraine-like headaches (which often do not respond to treatment). These symptoms often significantly affect people's ability to do daily activities. Loss of taste and smell may persist for several months or longer after other symptoms resolve. Mood disorders, mainly anxiety and depression, are common. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (PTSD) may develop. People with PTSD may have recurring intrusive memories. More study is needed to determine how long neurologic and psychologic symptoms last and how well people recover from them. 