Covid-19 is typically known as a lung infection, but it has also been found to cause blood clots that can lead to severe stroke. And neurologists indicate that there is proof that Covid-19 causes stroke in the absence of comorbidities in a patient.

As per the neurologists, if people with pre-existing conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, or any heart-related ailments test positive for Covid-19, they should immediately get admitted to the hospital.

Speaking to IANS, P.N. Renjen, Senior Consultant (Neurology) at Delhi's Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, said that coronavirus has been shown to cause the development of microthrombi (small clots).

Cases have emerged where people with zero comorbidities have had strokes and tested positive for Covid-19.

Renjen added, "While the chances having of a Covid-19 induced stroke are higher in people with pre-existing comorbidities, there is proof that it can also cause stroke in the absence of comorbidities in a patient."

Recently, a 54-year-old woman was treated at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital after suffering from a stroke and she also tested positive for Cvodi-19. She had no history of blood pressure or diabetes, and also had no complaint of any visible symptoms of Covid-19 like fever or breathlessness.

Neelesh Gupta, a Consultant Neurologist at Nayati Medicity, Mathura, said, "Neurological symptoms are seen in around one-third of Covid-19 patients of which stroke (hemorrhagic more than ischemic), anorexia, headache and neuropathy (GBS) are common. The reason is that coronavirus has a high affinity to ACE 2 receptors which are present in brain cells that lead to neurological symptoms on Covid-19 patients."

Bhushan Nilkanth Joshi, a Consultant Neurologist at the Columbia Asia hospital in Pune, agreed that there is proof that Covid-19 causes stroke even in the absence of comorbidities in a patient.

Praveen Gupta, Director, Neurology, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, said, "We have had two or three Covid-19 patients having issues with heart rhythm. Brain hemorrhage generally occurs in the elderly, and we have had patients who developed stroke on admission.

"Lung injury is due to clotting. A clot in the brain causes stroke and a clot in the heart causes heart diseases. It is observed that people who have existing risk factors, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, are not checking them regularly."

He added that in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, people having symptoms of a stroke should rush to the hospital.

On the other hand, A.K. Sahani, Chief of Neurology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Delhi, said it is a hypothesis that Covid-19 is causing stroke in the absence of comorbidity, and there is no evidence whether it is an association or a causal factor.

(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT)