Extrapulmonary Manifestations of COVID-19: A Call to Extra Vigilance and Tribute to Dr Li Wenliang

Abstract

COVID-19 pandemic has covered all continents and virtually all countries of the world infecting millions of people with several hundred thousands of death. It was first brought to the attention of a Chinese ophthalmologist Dr Li Wenliang. The disease which was first believed to be solely associated with the lungs and respiratory system has now shown that the spectrum of organ involvement of the disease is much larger than earlier believed. While lung and pulmonary features still account for a much larger presentation of the disease, other clinical manifestations such as fulminant myocarditis, arteriovenous thromboembolism, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, intracerebral haemorrhage, diarrhea, hypoxic encephalopathy, septicaemia and detection of SARS-CoV-2 particles in stool, saliva and semen of infected individuals are also becoming less infrequent. Haematologic manifestations of hypercoagulable blood are commonly reported among hospitalized COVID‐19 patients. An elevated D‐Dimer, that is rising in the course of disease may signifies disease deterioration. Prolonged PT and aPTT and increased fibrin degradation products with severe thrombocytopenia have been associated with life-threatening disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Physicians should therefore be on a watch out for these features in the management of patients and be ready to spot out other new surprises by the disease. This should be through deepening of curiosity by health personnel in the assessment and management of patients to spot out early surprises of COVID-19 to strengthen the sustenance of the ongoing control of the pandemic