2023-12-25 15:10:42
A 15-year-old girl who had a mild case of COVID-19 developed life-threatening symptoms two weeks after her infection. The patient, who was previously healthy, suddenly experienced shortness of breath and had to undergo emergency surgery.
Researchers described the dramatic case of the young patient in a current study in the journal Pediatrics. The virus affected nerves and paralyzed her vocal cords on both sides, leading to breathing difficulties. The girl was treated for a year while undergoing numerous examinations and tests to determine the cause of her symptoms.
Neuropathies, or nerve damage, are known consequences of viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. However, the case of the 15-year-old suggests that vocal cord paralysis could be an additional neuropathic sequela of the virus, according to the study authors. This manifestation has been observed in adults following a COVID-19 diagnosis, but this is the first known case in a person this young.
The researchers emphasize the importance of considering vocal cord pathology in establishing a differential diagnosis for children with voice, swallowing, or breathing difficulties after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The patient experienced symptoms such as constipation, fever, and fatigue after her COVID-19 infection, which initially subsided after a few days. However, she then developed shortness of breath and was admitted to the hospital. Despite receiving traditional treatment and speech therapy, her condition did not improve, and she eventually required a tracheostomy to relieve her symptoms.
The young girl remained dependent on the tracheostomy for 13 months. The case highlights the potential long-term consequences and rare neuropathic complications of COVID-19, even in young and previously healthy individuals.]
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