Mental confusion, accompanied by fever, can be an early symptom

Un a new study that states that delirium, a state of acute mental confusion accompanied by fever, may be an early symptom of Covid-19.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Immunology e Immunotherapycontributes to the growing amount of evidence that this condition is associated with the virus SARS–CoV-2.

Delirium is a sudden change in the brain that causes mental confusion and emotional disturbances. It makes it harder to think, remember, sleep, pay attention. The study highlights the fact that, along with the loss of the sense of taste and smell and headaches that occur in the days leading up to coughing and breathing difficulties, some patients also develop delirium.

“Therefore, the manifestation of this state of confusion, if accompanied by a high fever, should be considered an early marker of the disease, especially in the case of elderly patients,” said researcher Javier. Correa from University Open from Catalonia, in Spain. “We have to be aware, above all buma An epidemiological situation like this, because an individual who shows certain signs of confusion can be an indication infection“, He added.

To reach this conclusion, the team analyzed a number of scientific articles published on the effects of Covid-19 with respect to the central nervous system, i.e. the brain. The review found that while the first cases of pneumonia were reported in China with a focus on the damage it causes to the lungs and elsewhere organs, like the kidneys and the heart, there is mounting evidence that the coronavirus also affections the central nervous system and produces changes neurocognitivas, such as headaches and delirium, as well as episodes psychotic.

“The main hypotheses that explain how the new one works coronavirus affections the brain indicates three possible causes: hypoxia o Neuronal oxygen deficiency, inflammation of the brain tissue due to storm surges cytokines and the fact that the virus has the ability to cross the barrier hematoencefálica to invade directly the brain, “commented the study leader.

According to the same, any of these three factors has the potential to cause delusion.

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