From dry cough to high fever, the new coronavirus pneumonia is always associated with a series of bad symptoms.
Recently, a study on the new coronavirus was published in the "New England Medicine" magazine in which scientists warned that the new coronavirus pneumonia has developed an extremely rare complication, known as Guillain-Barre syndrome that can paralyze some patients.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a very rare and serious disease that affects nerves and can cause numbness, weakness and pain in the feet, hands and limbs.
A research team from the Italian Mondino Foundation said that some patients developed Guillain-Barré syndrome after the onset of COVID-19.
In this study, the researchers analyzed patients with new coronavirus in three hospitals in Italy from February 28 to March 21.
During this period, they discovered that five patients with new coronavirus pneumonia developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, causing them to be temporarily paralyzed. Symptoms in four of the patients included weakness in the lower extremities and paresthesia (burning or tingling of the skin), and the other patient had facial paralysis and slurred speech.
Researchers led by Dr. Gianpaolo Toscano explained: "The interval between the onset of COVID-19 symptoms and the first symptom of Guillain-Barre syndrome is 5 to 10 days."
Guillain-Barre syndrome is caused by immune system problems and usually occurs after infection.
Researchers of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK explained: "Normally, the immune system attacks any bacteria that enters the body. But for Guillain-Barre syndrome patients, something goes wrong, it will attack and Damage nerves."
"It is unclear why this happens, but it often happens after infection; especially respiratory infections, such as flu; or digestive system infections, such as food poisoning or gastroenteritis."
This syndrome has also appeared in people infected with other viruses, including Zika virus.
The researchers explained: "The interval between the onset of the new coronavirus and the first symptom of Guillain-Barré syndrome is 5 to 10 days, similar to the interval between Guillain-Barré syndrome during or after infection with other types of viruses."
The researchers believe: "Although many infection factors are related to Guillain-Barre syndrome, it does not rule out the tendency to first infect Campylobacter jejuni, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and Zika virus."
At the time of this report, NHS radiologist Paul Skegg, 42, was suffering from this syndrome while being treated at Durrant Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent. He has just recovered from Guillain-Barré syndrome caused by a new coronavirus.
Dr Jonathan Kwan, divisional medical director at the Kent hospital, called this the first known case in Kent and even the country.
The doctor highly praised the intensive care team and the neurologists in the hospital, who used a "groundbreaking" treatment to treat Paul.
The hospital injected Skegg with immunoglobulin, which is plasma extracted from the blood provided by the National Blood Transfusion Service.
Dr Jonathan Kwan said: "Without this, Paul may have been using the ventilator for a long time. His rapid recovery is a miracle."
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