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Coronavirus could cause brain damage in some patients by triggering inflammation that can lead to bleeds and the killing of cells, doctors have warned.

The virus appears to have resulted in neurological complications in some of those infected - including one Florida man in his 70s who temporarily lost the ability to speak.

While other scans suggest a woman in her 50s from Detroit has lost big chunks of brain cells, and similar central nervous problems have been reported in Italy and China.

Henry Ford Health System neurologist Dr Elissa Fory said incorporating patients with severe neurological disease needs to be added into "our treatment paradigm", reports the Daily Mail.

The doctor, involved in diagnosing the Detroit woman, added the complication seen in that patient was as "devastating" as severe lung disease.

(Image: REUTERS)

When the 58-year-old checked in she was confused and disoriented, as well as having many of the telltale symptoms of Covid-19.

She proved positive for the virus but having run numerous diagnostic tests, including taking a cerebrospinal fluid sample, everything else came back negative.

(Image: REUTERS)

A CT scan of her brain was carried out which showed dark spots, indicating a fluid build up or substantial brain cell loss.

The patient's thalamus - crucial in sending sensory signals for processing - showed particular damage, while other scans showed brain lesions or bleeds in temporal lobes.

Dr Fory said the extensive testing proved their suspicions that the woman, an airline worker, had encephalitis - a potentially deadly brain swelling condition.

The Florida patient, aged 74, had suffered seizures which affected his ability to speak - a sign of brain swelling, leading his doctors to believe he also had the condition.

One hospital in Italy has set up a 'NeuroCovid' unit for neurological conditions on the back of the number of brain swelling cases during the virus outbreak in the country.

While researchers in China had been first to suspect brain complications in some coronavirus sufferers.

The Henry Ford doctors are now urging clinicians across the US to keep an eye out for neurological symptoms as the pandemic continues to spread rapidly.