Covid-19 is one of the most discussed topics today. Its symptoms, routes of transmission and the evolution of this disease are of great concern and interest. However, did you know that Covid-19 can cause vertigo?
About covid-19
Causes
According to the WHO, Coronavirus disease (known as COVID-19) is “An infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus”. The virus is spread from person to person through the nose and mouth by small liquid particles travelling when one breathes, speaks or sneezes. The particles in question range from small aerosols to large respiratory droplets (WHO, 2020).
Symptoms of covid
The SARS-CoV-2 virus causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, a serious form of pneumonia. However, most people infected with the virus experience moderate respiratory illness, sometimes even mild symptoms. Some patients will become seriously ill and require medical treatment, especially older people and people living with diabetes, cancer, hypertension, chronic respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease who might develop serious symptoms leading even in the worst case to death.
The most well-known symptoms and most common ones are those identical to a flu, such as coughing, cold, fever, tiredness and sleepiness. Other symptoms are aching in your body (Especially in the back), nausea, loss of taste and/or smell, chest pain and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Post covid symptoms
According to the NHS, the most common Covid-19 symptoms are the following:
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- shortness of breath
- chest pain or tightness
- problems with memory and concentration ("brain fog")
- difficulty sleeping (insomnia)
- heart palpitations
- dizziness
- pins and needles
- joint pain
- depression and anxiety
- tinnitus, earaches
- feeling sick, diarrhea, stomach aches, loss of appetite
- a high temperature, cough, headaches, sore throat, changes to sense of smell or taste
- rashes
(NHS, 2020)
These symptoms are related to the so-called long Covid-19, meaning that even after testing negative for Covid-19 one can still experience the previously mentioned symptoms. It might take weeks, even months to completely recover.
What is post covid Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo?
Post-Covid Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo is a disease manifested by short-lived and severe attacks of vertigo, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The symptoms occur usually when lying in bed during your sleep and turning to the right side and when assuming an upright position. The feeling has been described as similar to the one you get when suffering from vertigo and being at the top of a mountain or a bridge.
How does covid cause vertigo?
It is still not known how Covid-19 can lead to vertigo. It has been argued that it might invade the neural pathways that are involved in the balance mechanisms. We still do not know whether the symptoms are caused by a worsening of a pre-existing disease, a coincidental event or a disease caused entirely by Covid-19.
How long does vertigo with COVID last?
Studies are being conducted to assess how long vertigo lasts. At the moment, no exact answer has been found. It has been reported that it might last as long as the other symptoms of long-Covid do.
Differences between vertigo and dizziness
Vertigo and dizziness are not the same thing. Indeed, vertigo is a more serious form of dizziness characterized by a spinning of your surrounding as a sense of fainting. Dizziness on the other hand has milder characteristics such as feeling light-headed and unsteady.
How common is vertigo with covid?
We still do not know how common vertigo is with Covid-19. According to a study reported in the Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, the incidence of dizziness in Covid-19 patients ranges from 7 to 12%. However, the data retrieved should be interpreted with caution (Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 2020).
Vertigo after covid vaccine shot
Some studies show that vertigo can be part of the spectrum of Covid-19 vaccination side effects. However, due to a lack of evidence and the small sample size of available studies in literature, we still do not exactly know the answer to this question.
How to treat vertigo with covid?
If you are experiencing vertigo with Covid-19 or after, you need to consult your doctor. The treatment for it is similar to the one for other cases of vestibular neuritis. Many professionals might play a role in your recovery, such as physicians, audiologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.
Summary
It is essential to understand the correlation between vertigo and Covid-19, both as a Covid-19 symptom and as a long-Covid symptom. Answering questions regarding the dynamic between both conditions must be prioritized as we face a newly developed pandemic with rapid mutations and health outcomes.
References
- National Dizzy and balance center. Post-Covid dizziness vertigo https://www.nationaldizzyandbalancecenter.com/services/post-covid-dizziness-vertigo/
- Raquel Mezzalira. Bjorl. Covid-19 and dizziness: what do we know so far?. 2022 http://www.bjorl.org/en-covid-19-dizziness-what-do-we-articulo-S1808869422000246
- Siniša Maslovara, Andro Košeccorresponding.Post-COVID-19 Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. National Library of Medicine. 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8187065/
- NHS. Long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID). 2022. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-long-covid/
- WHO. Covid-19. 2020. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_3
