The COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges for the Neurosurgeons and Neurologists

• Published in: Neurology India Vol. 68; no. 2; pp. 244 - 245
• Main Author: Khilnani, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01-03-2020; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd
• Subjects: Adult respiratory distress syndrome; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Diagnosis; Disease transmission; Enzymes; Epidemics; Fever; Health aspects; Humans; India - epidemiology; Infection; Infections; Musculoskeletal system; Nervous system; Neurologists; Neurology; Neurosurgeons; Neurosurgery; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Personal protective equipment; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; SARS-CoV-2; Viral infections; Virus diseases; Viruses; India; China; California; Italy
• ISSN: 0028-3886; 1998-4022
• DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.283762

In December 2019, several cases of unexplained severe pneumonia were seen which were later diagnosed to be due to corona virus infection. Since the clinical presentation was of Severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome (SARS) and both shared same receptor (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2), it was named SARS Corona virus-2 (SARS Co V2). [3] The worst affected people with this infections are elderly, those with co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney and liver disease, cancers and pre-existing structural lung disease. Use of personal protective equipment and N 95 masks while treating all suspected patients will go a long way to protect Health care workers.