The virus affects not only the lungs of patients, but also their intelligence.
Of all types of delirium - a mental illness that is accompanied by clouding of consciousness and hallucinations, we are most familiar with delirium tremens, aka “delirium tremens”. This diagnosis was made by Comrade Saakhov to Shurika in the film “Prisoner of the Caucasus”. But delirium does not always arise on the basis of alcohol.
Recently it was found that in about 20-30% of cases, the course of coronavirus disease in humans is accompanied by delirium. The first mention of this topic in scientific research dates back to April 10, Chinese doctors first spoke about coronavirus delirium. The fact that its signs were not immediately recognized in the general clinical picture of the course of the disease is understandable. In 75 percent of cases, delirium is not diagnosed in patients in intensive care units for a simple reason - patients connected to ventilators are unable to speak and cannot amaze doctors with their amazing stories.
And it's not just about coronavirus patients. One in three patients who, regardless of diagnosis, spent 5 days in the intensive care unit, experience a mental reaction, which often takes the form of delirium, according to The Atlantic.
What triggers delirium in coronavirus patients? According to one version, SARS-CoV-2 is able to overcome the blood-brain barrier, penetrates the brain and begins its destructive work there: hypoxia develops, blood clots appear, the brain begins to lack oxygen.
In addition, the mental state of patients is affected by social isolation, which we have been forced to observe lately. The situation is also aggravated by the prolonged use of sedatives, which are necessary for patients on mechanical ventilation.
How is it treated?
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In American clinics, in addition to using medications, several methods are used to support covid patients with signs of delirium.
- since visiting coronavirus patients is prohibited, patients are advised to maintain relationships with relatives via video communication using instant messengers.
- the lack of physical activity is compensated by physiotherapy.
- in the wards they include music for meditation, positive videos with pictures of nature, show paintings by artists.
- special exercises are carried out to train memory.
- in the wards, they create opportunities for patients to resume their usual activities, which they were fond of before the illness: solving crosswords, watching broadcasts of sports competitions (at least in the recording), drawing …
- Among the preventive measures are the organization of proper nutrition, sleep and wakefulness, reasonable physical activity. Orientation trainings in time and space.
What are the consequences of this?
A complication in the form of delirium makes the already difficult course of covid even more dangerous. It has been estimated that its manifestations double the chances of death. But even if they recover, covid patients with delirium spend an average of a week longer in the hospital.
The most unpleasant thing is that doctors say that even after recovery, delirium causes irreparable damage to brain functions. There is evidence that within the next 5 years after hospitalization, the likelihood of various cognitive impairments increases by 2 times. In the future, this leads to the risks of developing various neurodegenerative diseases - senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's. It is unlikely that patients with covid delirium will do otherwise.
In this regard, doctors, in particular Professor Sharon of Harvard Medical School, urge colleagues to pay special attention to the timely diagnosis of delirium in coronavirus patients. Not only the lungs of patients are in danger, but also their intellect and mental state.
YAROSLAV KOROBATOV