Case report
CSF rhinorrhoea post COVID-19 swab: A case report and review of literature

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2021.01.003Get rights and content

Highlights

  • CSF leak is an exceedingly rare complication post Nasal swab.

  • The Underlying pathophysiology in this case is poorly understood.

  • Adverse events may still occur due delicate anatomyof the nose and highlights the importance of alternative methods of screening in certain cases.

Abstract

We report the case of a 59 year old male who presented with 2 months of persistent rhinorrhoea from left nostril post a nasal swab done for coryzal symptoms at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beta-2-transferrin confirmed it to be a CSF leak and imaging showed a left middle cranial fossa encephalocele herniating into the sphenoid sinus as the site of the leak post swab. The leak was treated endoscopically. We describe the case history and management of this exceedingly rare complication of nasal swab for respiratory testing.

Keywords

CSF rhinorrhoea
COVID swab complications
Iatrogenic CSF leak

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