In the United States, a 15-year-old girl developed vocal cord paralysis after contracting Covid-19. Thirteen days after infection, she was admitted to the emergency room for breathing difficulties. Doctors noted rapid, noisy breathing, indicating obstruction of airflow, although his oxygen levels were normal.
Otolaryngologists diagnosed a paradoxical movement of the vocal cords: they closed when breathing. His condition worsened, causing difficulty swallowing, unsteady walking and numbness. She was diagnosed with bilateral vocal cord paralysis.
According to one report, this paralysis could be an additional neuropathic aftereffect of the virus. The girl had to undergo a surgical tracheotomy to support her breathing for over a year. Other neurological complications have been noted, such as headaches, seizures and peripheral neuropathy. The tracheostomy was safely removed 15 months later.
Pascal Lemontel
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