COVID-19 fear-induced anorexia nervosa and obsessive-compulsive disorder leading to fatal megaloblastic anemia: Lethal psychological complication of the pandemic.

Khanna, Shivam; Talwar, Dhruv; Kumar, Sunil; Acharya, Sourya; Shukla, Samarth · J Family Med Prim Care · 2022

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

We report a young female having severe pallor and breathlessness on presentation, being diagnosed as a case of megaloblastic anemia, which was confirmed on bone marrow biopsy. On detailed history taking, she was revealed to have anorexia nervosa precipitated due to extreme fear of COVID-19 along with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Thus, a psychiatric disorder presenting due to simple phobia of COVID-19 can also have a fatal outcome in the young. Therefore, psychiatric health needs urgent attention by physicians, governments, and policymakers across the globe to prevent the surge of mental illness during the ongoing pandemic.