On April 29, 2021, at a local clinic in Gaza City, a young Palestinian man reacted. A health worker was collecting nasal swab samples for coronavirus testing. The emergence of a more contagious British variant last month has exacerbated the situation, which has exacerbated the surge in cases among young Palestinians. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP Photography)
Timely and reliable testing is essential to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Nasal swab RT-PCR testing is most commonly used to diagnose airborne diseases, thanks to its excellent specificity and sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection within 48 hours.
Although nasal sampling is safe, some doctors have clinically observed that after a swab test, serious complications such as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage may occur in rare cases. But these situations are rare.
(CSF leakage refers to a state in which transparent fluid surrounds the brain, and the spinal cord leaks through the outermost connective tissue (dura) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord and remains in the CSF. It is usually responsible for buffering the injured brain and spinal cord, and also helps To provide nutrients and waste removal systems for the brain.)
Doctors and researchers are still trying to figure out the frequency of complications after nasal swab tests. What caused it?
In a new study published in the journal JAMA Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, a team of Finnish researchers from Helsinki University Hospital and the University of Helsinki investigated the frequency and types of complications following a Covid-19 nasal swab test. The findings of lead author Dr. Anni Koskinen and colleagues emphasize the importance of appropriately trained technicians who can safely perform nasal swabs for Covid-19 RT-PCR testing.
During the 7-month study period from March 1 to September 30, 2020, the researchers observed all patients who visited the Emergency Department of the Otolaryngology Department of Helsinki University Hospital. The researchers then screened the patients for complications after the Covid-19 nasal swab test.
They also obtained from the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare the number of Covid-19 tests (1.6 million) performed in hospitals during the same period.
Approximately 6,43,284 Covid-19 RT-PCR tests were performed in seven months. Among them, doctors in the emergency department only treated 8 visits related to complications. Seven of them are female and one is male. They are between 14 and 78 years old.
After the Covid-19 nasal swab test, four of them experienced nasal bleeding. After the test, the other four people were sent to the hospital immediately, with four broken cotton swabs stuck in each of their nasal cavities. None of the eight patients tested positive for Covid-19.
This makes the incidence of complications that require treatment in the emergency department, 1.24 per 100,000 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2. Among the eight patients, one had undergone rhino surgery or nose work. The other suffered from nasal congestion while being tested for Covid-19. Others are suffering from hematological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, or are being treated with anticoagulants (blood thinners).
The doctor removed the broken swab through a nasal endoscope under local anesthesia. However, the treatment time for epistaxis is longer. Patients need medication, many nasal fillers-intranasal devices that place local pressure on the nasal septum-as well as surgery and endovascular procedures.
Although this sounds scary, don’t shy away from completing the Covid test! The researchers concluded that the incidence of complications was extremely low in their study.
“All complications seem to involve an incorrect sampling technique: excessive force or over-orientation of the swab’s skull (pointing to the brain). The researchers wrote: “Although patients with a broken swab are in good condition, the nose (hemorrhage) Patients have a harder recovery period.”
In order to avoid complications, the correct sampling technique is essential. Always pay attention to the nasal cavity and surrounding anatomical structures for sampling to ensure safe sampling and correct results. Never use force, especially in patients with known operations on the nose or skull base. The researchers concluded: “The sampling swab should be along the base of the nose, not too laterally or too cranially, until resistance is encountered.”
Anuradha Varanasi is a freelance science writer. She wrote about the intersection of health/medicine, ethnic differences and climate change. She has a master’s degree in science.
Anuradha Varanasi is a freelance science writer. She wrote about the intersection of health/medicine, ethnic differences and climate change. She received a master’s degree in science journalism from Columbia University in New York.
Post time: May-12-2021