From a fever to a dry cough, coronavirus is known to be associated with a range of symptoms.
Now, several doctors have revealed an unusual symptom in elderly coronavirus patients that was a key indicator that they’d been infected.
Rather than having the typical cough and fever, many elderly patients have experienced confusion as a result of their infection.
Speaking to CNN, Dr Joseph Ouslander, a professor of geriatric medicine at Florida Atlantic University, said: “Underlying chronic illnesses can mask or interfere with signs of infection.
“Some older people, whether from age-related changes or previous neurologic issues such as a stroke, may have altered cough reflexes. Others with cognitive impairment may not be able to communicate their symptoms."
According to one doctor, many elderly coronavirus patients are first admitted to hospital with secondary injuries.
Dr Sam Torbati, medical director of the Ruth and Harry Roman Emergency Department at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said: "They get weak and dehydrated and when they stand to walk, they collapse and injure themselves badly.
"When we test them, we discover that what's producing these changes is a central nervous system effect of coronavirus.”
The news comes shortly after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention officially updated its guidelines on coronavirus symptoms.
The list now includes:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sore throat
- New loss of taste or smell
