Das Soumitra, Melgar Pablo, Rasool Aniqa Abdul, Adhikari Adarsha, Patel Rudresh, Adre Lorenzo Abednego B, Lopez Marylaine J
Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia.
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Case Rep Psychiatry. 2023 Mar 23;2023:6215386. doi: 10.1155/2023/6215386. eCollection 2023.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), has significantly impacted global health. It can present a range of complications, from asymptomatic to severe respiratory distress syndrome. It has also been linked to complications in multiple organ systems, including neurological symptoms such as headaches and encephalopathy. Delirium, characterized by acute confusion, is common in older adults and associated with prolonged hospital stays and elevated mortality rates. We present a case study of a young mother with a prior medical history of mild to moderate depression who experienced an episode of delirium consequent to a COVID-19 infection. The initial manifestation of her illness was mild diarrhea, but as her condition worsened, she began exhibiting symptoms of delirium. These symptoms include confusion, agitation, sleep disturbance, and disordered behavior. The delirious episode was brief and effectively managed with small doses of psychotropic medications to control aggressive behavior. Upon resolution, no additional treatment was deemed necessary. This case underscores the wide-ranging effects of COVID-19 on physical and psychological well-being and highlights the importance of considering symptoms beyond those associated with respiratory distress.
由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2病毒）引起的冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行对全球健康产生了重大影响。它可表现出一系列并发症，从无症状到严重呼吸窘迫综合征。它还与多个器官系统的并发症有关，包括头痛和脑病等神经症状。以急性意识混乱为特征的谵妄在老年人中很常见，并且与住院时间延长和死亡率升高有关。我们介绍了一个病例研究，对象是一位有轻度至中度抑郁症病史的年轻母亲，她在感染COVID-19后出现了谵妄发作。她疾病的最初表现是轻度腹泻，但随着病情恶化，她开始出现谵妄症状。这些症状包括意识混乱、躁动、睡眠障碍和行为紊乱。谵妄发作短暂，通过小剂量精神药物有效控制攻击性行为。发作结束后，无需额外治疗。该病例强调了COVID-19对身心健康的广泛影响，并突出了考虑呼吸窘迫以外症状的重要性。
