Is Persistent Thick Copious Mucus a Long-Term Symptom of COVID-19?

Manckoundia, Patrick; Franon, Evelyne

Introduction The typical clinical picture of COVID-19 is gradually becoming clearer, both in the acute phase and in the long-term. However, new symptoms are gradually being identified. We describe a long-term symptom that has not yet been reported. Case description A 49-year-old man consulted for persistent asthenia. The general practitioner found a fever (39.2°C), and COVID-19 was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction test. Further symptoms appeared, notably thick, white, painless tracheal hypersecretion for 3 months before diminishing, without disappearing. Conclusion Non-inflammatory tracheal hypersecretion, not yet reported in COVID-19, may be an additional long-term symptom. The hyperstimulation of tracheal goblet cells secreting mucus is 1 pathophysiological hypothesis. LEARNING POINTS Painless, non-inflammatory tracheal hypersecretion, which has yet to be described in post-acute COVID-19, may be an additional long-term symptom of the disease.The hyperstimulation of mucus-secreting tracheal goblet cells by the coronavirus, leading to tracheal discomfort and a feeling of suffocation, is 1 pathophysiological hypothesis.