Rehabilitation challenges in COVID-19 induced acute polyradiculoneuropathies

Abstract

Introduction. SARS-COV 2 infection causes damage of the peripheral nervous system: loss of smell loss of taste and demyelination or axonal injury in the spinal roots and motor and sensory nerves with acute polyradiculoneuritis. As many people are affected by COVID-19, the number of patients with secondary peripheral nervous system damage is increasing. Material and method. There are a significant number of Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) cases reported in COVID-19 positive patients, leading to the recognition of GBS as one of the peripheral nervous system complications of SARS-COV 2 infection. We are trying to summarise the particularities of specific rehabilitation in post-COVID patients. Results and discussions. The rehabilitation of a COVID patients has particularities, first – because of infectious risk carried by the patient during the procedures, second by the patient’s pulmonary and physical impairments induced by the Coronavirus. Conclusions. There is scarce evidence for rehabilitation interventions, and many recommendations are based on methods developed in other viral infections or chronic pulmonary and neurologic conditions. There is a urgent need for studies regarding the efficacy of interventions in COVID rehabilitation, as the number of patients is constantly increasing.