Makda Aamir, Kumar Sagar, Kumar Ajay, Kumar Vinesh, Rizwan Amber
Neurology, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, PAK.
Internal Medicine, Ziauddin University, Karachi, PAK.
Cureus. 2020 Sep 10;12(9):e10360. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10360.
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) primarily affects the pulmonary system and presents itself as shortness of breath, fever, and cough. However, it may affect other systems as well, including the nervous system. This study aimed to determine the frequency of neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients and its association with the severity of the disease. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public sector tertiary care teaching hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, from April to July 2020. All patients with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were included, except those with pre-existing neurological and psychiatric conditions. Results The most common neurological symptom was dizziness (17.5%), followed by headache (15.7%). Three (2.6%) patients had a stroke. Nine (7.8%) participants had a taste impairment, and another nine (7.8%) had a smell impairment. There was no significant difference in the frequency of neurological symptoms when severe and non-severe disease was compared. Conclusion Neurological symptoms are frequent in COVID-19. Care should be taken to identify them early. COVID-19 should be suspected in patients presenting with neurological abnormalities and should be included in the differential diagnosis to prevent further virus transmission.
引言
2019年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）主要影响肺部系统，表现为呼吸急促、发热和咳嗽。然而，它也可能影响其他系统，包括神经系统。本研究旨在确定COVID-19患者神经症状的发生率及其与疾病严重程度的关联。
方法
这项横断面研究于2020年4月至7月在巴基斯坦卡拉奇的一家公立三级护理教学医院进行。纳入所有聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测呈阳性的患者，但排除既往有神经和精神疾病的患者。
结果
最常见的神经症状是头晕（17.5%），其次是头痛（15.7%）。3例（2.6%）患者发生中风。9例（7.8%）参与者有味觉障碍，另有9例（7.8%）有嗅觉障碍。比较重症和非重症疾病时，神经症状的发生率无显著差异。
结论
COVID-19患者中神经症状很常见。应注意尽早识别这些症状。出现神经异常的患者应怀疑感染COVID-19，并应将其纳入鉴别诊断，以防止病毒进一步传播。
