COVID-19 Update: Neurologic Symptoms / Early Attitudes / Drop in Flu

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

Catch up on some of the latest news on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

Neurologic manifestations: The SARS-CoV-2 virus might infect a patient's nervous system and skeletal muscle, according to a retrospective case series of roughly 200 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, published in JAMA Neurology. Just over a third of these patients had some sort of neurologic manifestation, commonly headache, taste or smell impairment, or dizziness. Neurologic symptoms such as acute cerebrovascular disease, conscious disturbance, and skeletal muscle injury were more common among those with more severe illness. The authors note: "During the epidemic period of COVID-19, when seeing patients with these neurologic manifestations, physicians should consider SARS-CoV-2 infection as a differential diagnosis to avoid delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis and prevention of transmission."

Early attitudes among vulnerable groups: From March 13 to 20, when the outbreak was gaining traction in the U.S., researchers surveyed 630 adults in Chicago with at least one chronic condition. Respondents who were black, were living below the poverty line, or had low health literacy were more likely to think they would not get infected, to be less concerned about the virus, and to feel less prepared for an outbreak. Those with low health literacy were also significantly more likely to report feeling at least somewhat confident in the federal government’s ability to handle an outbreak. In the Annals of Internal Medicine, the authors write: "Our findings depict the initial lack of clarity in understanding, perceived susceptibility, and personal efficacy regarding the pandemic among those at greatest risk."

Drop in flu: In Japan, seasonal influenza activity decreased relative to past years as people began practicing infection control measures aimed at limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2, according to a research letter in JAMA.

Ivermectin for animals: The FDA is cautioning that humans should not use ivermectin approved for use in animals. It is commonly prescribed to treat heartworm disease and other parasitic infections in animals. A recent study found that the drug inhibited replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.