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Cough, fever, and fatigue are typical symptoms of Covid-19. A study from the UK now shows that frail older people can also experience an often overlooked symptom.
Corona infections are most serious in the elderly and chronically ill. Therefore, a quick diagnosis is even more important. However, not all the symptoms that indicate an infection with the Coronavirus indicate.
In the frail elderly, delirium could be an important early indicator of Covid-19. This is what researchers from King’s College London report.
What does delirium mean?
In medicine, delirium (or delirium for short) is an acute state of mental confusion, which can primarily affect thinking and perception, consciousness, but also action. In addition to psychological symptoms, physical disorders also occur frequently.
The study evaluated data from two groups with corona-positive patients 65 years of age or older. 322 patients were treated at the clinic between March and early May (inpatient cohort). An additional 535 patients were screened through the ‘Covid Symptom Study App’, which is widely used in Great Britain (outpatient cohort).
In some patients, delirium is the only symptom of Covid-19
The result: frailty was associated with a significantly higher rate of delirium (confusion, disorientation, drowsiness) in patients. Delirium was the only symptom in every fifth frail hospital patient with Covid-19. And one in three frail outpatients with corona and delirium lacked the typical symptoms of cough and fever.
“Older and frail people are at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 than those in better shape. Our results show that delirium is a key symptom in this group,” said study leader Dr. Rose Penfold of the King’s College, London. The “Ärzteblatt” had previously reported on the results which were published in the specialized journal “Age and Aging”.
Pay attention to changes in the elderly.
The past six months have shown that Covid-19 could catastrophically spread in nursing homes, the researchers said. Therefore, doctors, nurses, and family members must be vigilant when the mental state of a frail elderly person changes acutely. Since delirium could be an early warning sign of COVID-19 even if there are no typical symptoms like cough or fever.
Important note: In no case is the information a substitute for professional advice or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of t-online.de cannot and should not be used to make independent diagnoses or to initiate treatment.
