Patient With Prior COVID-19 Infection Presenting With Acute Upper Airway Obstruction: A Case Report

Cureus. 2022 Mar 16;14(3):e23214. doi: 10.7759/cureus.23214. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Abstract

New clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been emerging throughout the pandemic and are being reported to the medical community. There have been limited reports that the virus can cause acute airway compromise. Here, we describe a young patient with a recent COVID-19 infection now presenting with acute airway compromise, presumed to be pharyngitis, and their clinical course during their hospitalization. The purpose of this case presentation was to shed light on a newly reported, presumed, presentation of COVID-19 that can be life-threatening in people of all ages. Though there have been limited reported cases, it is important to include this virus in the differential diagnosis of virus-induced airway compromise.

Keywords: acute airway obstruction; covid-19; epiglottitis; pharyngitis; post-covid sequelae.

Publication types

  • Case Reports