COVID-19 Affecting Nervous System, Says Professor Of Odisha’s SCB Medical College

Bhubaneswar: Almost all systems of the nervous system, both central and peripheral, are affected by COVID-19 as is evident from the complaints of losing smell and taste sense in the preliminary stage, said Dr Ashok Kumar Mallik, Professor of Neurology at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack.

Speaking at a session on COVID home isolation here on Wednesday, he said after a person recovers from the disease, it will take some time for nerves to regenerate to allow the smell and taste senses to return to normal.

Stating that the common reason for headache in COVID is stress, he advised the patient to stay calm and relaxed.

Dr Mallik said most commonly visible conditions among COVID-19 patients are brain stroke, encephalitis, meningitis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), seizures and headaches.

COVID-19 is also affecting peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the conditions may vary from paralysis, difficulty in swallowing food, Myositis (acute muscle pain), Myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord), said the professor.

“COVID patients with a history of paralysis should not worry and keep in touch with tele-medicine available at medical college and government hospitals. They can stay in home isolation and consult doctors over phone and recover. There is no need to panic and rush to hospital,” Dr Mallik said.