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In a groundbreaking discovery, medical experts at Massachusetts General Hospital have reported an exceptional case of a 15-year-old girl experiencing bilateral vocal cord paralysis following a battle with COVID-19.
The otherwise healthy girl sought emergency care at Massachusetts General Hospital, showing signs of respiratory distress merely nine days after testing positive for SARS-CoV-2.
An endoscopic examination unveiled bilateral vocal cord paralysis, an unusual condition where both vocal cords in the larynx or voice box lose mobility.
Physician-researchers at Mass Eye and Ear, part of Mass General Brigham, have classified this as the “first pediatric case of bilateral vocal cord paralysis post-COVID,” deeming it a likely consequence of the virus.
The case, documented in the journal Pediatrics, suggests that vocal cord paralysis could be a neurological complication associated with the virus, adding to the already established neurological impacts observed in both children and adults.
Dr. Danielle Reny Larrow, the study’s lead author and a resident in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Mass Eye and Ear, emphasized the significance of considering this potential complication in children exhibiting breathing, speaking, or swallowing difficulties following a recent COVID-19 diagnosis.
The patient underwent an extensive array of tests, consultations with various specialists, and attempted speech therapy, which, unfortunately, failed to alleviate her symptoms. Consequently, physicians performed a tracheostomy to assist her breathing.
Remarkably, the girl relied on the tracheostomy for over 13 months, signaling the potential persistence of this nerve-related complication. Following the case report submission, physicians successfully removed the tracheostomy, allowing her to attend her high school graduation and prom.
Dr. Christopher Hartnick, senior author and Director of the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology at Mass Eye and Ear, highlighted the rarity of such complications in young, healthy individuals, especially considering the vast number of pediatric COVID-19 cases reported.
This case sheds light on the lingering neurological effects that COVID-19 can pose on young individuals, emphasizing the necessity for vigilance and comprehensive care within the pediatric community when dealing with post-viral complications.
