New post-COVID complication reported - Know what is 'restless anal syndrome'

With each passing day, different types of post-COVID complications are being reported from around the world. In the latest, a 77-year-old man in Japan reported 'deep anal discomfort' just days after recovering from COVID-19. Doctors at the Tokyo University Hospital have diagnosed the condition as 'restless anal syndrome'.

Earlier, many patients recovering from COVID-19 have come up with problems like 'gangrene' in the gall bladder. In this case, the man was hospitalised with mild COVID-19 that included sore throat, cough and fever. In the hospital, he received treatment for mild pneumonia.

The case study was published in BMC Infectious Diseases. The doctors at the Tokyo University Hospital found that the symptoms shown by the man were consistent with those shown by patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS). The 'anal discomfort' was however resolved through a course of Clonazepam, a drug used to treat seizures, BMC Infectious Diseases published.

What is the case

Weeks after the man was discharged from the hospital post-COVID-19 recovery he began to experience restless, deep anal discomfort.

The  77-year-old Japanese man experienced restless, deep anal discomfort, approximately 10 cm from the perineal region. 

Exercise such as walking or running gave some relief to the man from the symptoms while taking rest made them worse.

Additionally, the symptom tended to aggravate during the evening time. The patient also had to take pills to sleep, as per the case study.

Tests on the 77-year-old patient however concluded that except for a few haemorrhoids, the senior citizen was absolutely fine.

Doctors revealed that there were no issues such as brain abnormalities, bladder disturbances or any such problems.

Restless feelings, anxiety and insomnia were the only health issues that he faced after recovering from COVID-19.

What is restless leg syndrome?

Restless leg syndrome is a 'common neurological, sensorimotor disorder', caused by the dysfunction of the central nervous system.

An urge to move is perhaps the most common symptom of this disorder. The symptoms worsen if the body is at rest.