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Updated: Sep 13, 2025

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Published on: November 7, 2020
Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response Following COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab: A Case Report
Michele Mattia Viscusi1, Luca Ambrosio2,3, Danilo Ricciardi1
1Unit of Cardiac Sciences, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Roma, Italy.
Abstract:
Nasopharyngeal (NP) swab sampling is a simple procedure that has become extremely popular in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, with hundreds of million specimens collected every day. However, rare but serious complications have been reported following NP swab acquisition. Here we present a case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation associated with NP specimen collection in a healthy healthcare provider undergoing COVID-19 testing during departmental screening. This response may have been caused by an exaggerated vagal tone triggered by the trigeminocardiac reflex. Less invasive collection methods, such as saliva testing, may be warranted in predisposed individuals.
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Acute Pharyngitis
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause: