[ad_1]
The man, from the Czech Republic, underwent a COVID-19 nasal swab test in March 2020 after close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus. But after receiving a negative result, he allegedly had a runny nose just from his right nostril. This rare symptom, which the patient mistakenly believed was due to allergies, lasted nine months before going to see a doctor in December 2020.
But a CT scan of his skull showed the man had a rare brain injury, according to a new report, published in the JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,
She was diagnosed with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, a rare but serious condition in which the clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord escapes through a defect in the skull and exits through the nose.
CSF leaks are dangerous because they can increase the risk of meningitis, which is an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Still, patients can leak CSF for years before developing serious problems, Live Science previously reported.
CSF leaks are usually seen after head trauma or brain surgery.
Reports indicate that, in this case, the man’s CSF leak was likely an extremely rare complication caused by the test.
The man had received a COVID-19 nasopharyngeal test from a health worker.
This is when a sample is taken from deep in the nose, where the nasal cavity meets the upper part of the throat, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
These tests are known to be uncomfortable, but they’re generally safe and shouldn’t be painful, according to the Virginia Department of Health.
READ MORE: North Korea “offers dangerous technology” as NATO sounds nuclear alarm: “serious concern”
The report says two cases of CSF leaks linked to COVID-19 have already been reported.
But the new findings appear to be the first case of a CSF leak after a COVID-19 test in which the patient did not have a pre-existing head defect.
The man required surgery to close the wound and has since recovered well, but reported loss of smell in one nostril.
[ad_2]
Source link