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Doctors and caregivers of the elderly should pay attention to signs of disorientation or confusion in their patients, especially the infirm. Scientists believe that any abnormal behavior can be early symptoms of COVID-19.
Affected people over 65 years of age, much more often than their healthier peers, show unusual symptoms of coronavirus infection. Instead of coughing and having a fever, they experience delirium. The reasons for this course of the disease have not yet been elucidated, but scientists would like hospital and nursing home staff to be aware of this phenomenon.
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The three main symptoms of coronavirus infection are coughing, an increase in body temperature above 37,8 degrees Celsius, and disturbances in the perception of smells and tastes. About 85 percent had at least one of these symptoms. infected. However, recent research suggests that some age groups may develop additional ones, such as diarrhea and vomiting in children.
Delirium is characteristic of infected infirm persons
A study by scientists from King’s College, London, analyzed the data of more than 800 COVID-19 patients aged 65 and over. It involved 322 hospital patients and 535 people using the Covid Symptom Study application for recording symptoms or health reports. All subjects tested positive for the presence of the coronavirus.
The researchers found that in hospital patients classified as infirm, delirium was more frequent compared to stronger people of the same age. And one in five showed delirium as the only symptom of COVID-19.
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Doctors use the term infirm in relation to people who have not regained their full fitness after illnesses and accidents or those who suffer from severe chronic diseases and most likely, in the event of an illness, will be hospitalized.
Change in mental condition is the main symptom of COVID-19 in people aged 65+
Among COVID-19 patients over 65 years of age using the application, delirium was more common in generally weaker people. It has been defined as symptoms of confusion, disorientation or sleepiness. Additional symptoms common in weaker application users were fatigue and shortness of breath. In contrast, one-third of the users who reported delirium did not have the classic symptoms of infection, such as coughing and fever.
“Weaker elderly people are more likely to be infected with the coronavirus than their more capable peers,” said Dr. Rose Penfold of King’s College. “ And our research shows that delirium is the main symptom of COVID-19 in this age group.
Dr. Penfold made an appeal to doctors and carers of people 65+ to pay special attention to any changes in the mental condition of patients. She added that “confusion or strange behavior may be early symptoms of coronavirus infection.”
The study also highlights the importance of proper supervision of nursing home residents where the virus is spreading rapidly. Therefore, it was once again reminded of the priority importance of personal protective equipment, such as frequent hand washing or wearing masks.
See also:
- Coronavirus in children. How do you know when something is wrong? Important advice from a pediatrician
- Record increase in infections. “Most Poles stopped taking SARS-CoV-2 seriously”
- Will a common cold protect us from COVID-19? The latest research shows that it is possible
- With or without a mask? We explain when it is still mandatory
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