COVID-19 Alert: Neuroinvasive Potential of SARS CoV-2.

SARS-CoV-2 has neuroinvasive potential which may be partly responsible for respiratory failure. "Since SARS‐CoV2 may conceal itself in the neurons from the immune recognition, complete clearance of the virus may not be guaranteed even if the patients have recovered from the acute infection." (Li, Bai, & Hashikawa, 2020).

This is a grave concern for all COVID-19 patients and healthcare providers at high risk of infection. While we question whether immunity is long-term, short-term, or even possible, the invasion of the virus into the CNS could cause a permanent infection. This would explain neurological symptoms such as vomiting and nausea, but another concern is how this might affect patients cognitive performance in the future. Will we see cognitive decline?

Some patients have complained of loss of automatic inspiratory capacity requiring manual breathing. This could explain respiratory failure in patients as young as 19. If patients are required to manually ventilate, then as soon as they fall asleep they could experience apnea which could lead to dysrhythmia and cardiorespiratory arrest.

Please use PPE and demand it be available in your healthcare setting.

-Mason Peck MSN

Source: Li, Y. C., Bai, W. Z., & Hashikawa, T. (2020, March 11). The neuroinvasive potential of SARS‐CoV2 may play a role in the respiratory failure of COVID‐19 patients. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jmv.25728