Adult congenital localized diaphragmatic eventration (DE) is an uncommon condition that, due to the absence of notable symptoms, is often ignored and is consequently not frequently treated following diagnosis. Furthermore, the progression of localized DE into complete DE is rare. The recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has placed a strain on global health care systems, including those in China, and exacerbated several underlying medical complications and diseases. This has resulted in a rapid progression of underlying diseases and even death in cases of diabetes or pre‑existing respiratory diseases and other chronic conditions. The present study describes the case of a patient with congenital localized DE that progressed to complete DE following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) infection. The patient had a medical history of localized DE with persistent cough, chest tightness and abdominal distension following infection with SARS‑CoV‑2. Chest X‑ray and computed tomography examinations confirmed the diagnosis of complete DE on the left side. Therefore, the patient underwent thoracic surgery for left‑sided diaphragmatic plication. At the 6‑month follow‑up visit, the patient had recovered well and did not show any complications. Overall, the present study demonstrated that SARS‑CoV‑2 infection exacerbated the progression of left‑sided congenital localized DE, which had no obvious symptoms, to complete DE accompanied by severe symptoms.

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