Covid-19 Era Post Viral Vagal Neuropathy Presenting as Persistent Shortness of Breath with Normal Pulmonary Imaging
Opinion All that is shortness of breath is not pulmonary. We have identified a cohort of 18 outpatients in a general otolaryngology practice in New York City who presented with persistent shortness of breath (SOB) despite normal pulmonary imaging. All patients had cough, fever and SOB between March 15 - May 15, 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, with the SOB persisting for 4 - 12 weeks at the time of their presentation. 3/12 were positive for COVID-19 IgG antibodies, one of whom also tested positive with a nasal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Due to limited access, only 12 patients were able to obtain an antibody test and only 7 were able to get the PCR test. Of the 4 patients who had spirometry as part of their pulmonary investigation, the flow volume loop showed flattening of the inspiratory curve in all 4. History revealed that the SOB was generally not waking these patients up at night nor was it affecting their e...