Journal of Central Nervous System Disease (May 2022)

Neurological Manifestations Associated With SARS-CoV-2 in Children: A Case Series

  • Marianna Tavares Venceslau MS,
  • Giuliana Pucarelli Lebreiro MD,
  • Gabrielly de Souza Leitão MD,
  • Brenda Klemm Arci Mattos de Freitas Alves MD,
  • Luane Abdalla Gouvea MD, MS,
  • Giuseppe Mario Carmine Pastura MD, PhD,
  • Thiago Dias Anachoreta MD,
  • Regina Cláudia Silva da Rocha MD,
  • Fernanda Queiroz Maciel MD,
  • Catherine Crespo Cordeiro MD,
  • Terezinha Marta Pereira Pinto Castiñeiras MD, PhD,
  • Thalita Fernandes Abreu MD, PhD,
  • Ana Cristina Cisne Frota MD,
  • Rafael Brandão Varella PhD,
  • Maria Angelica Arpon Marandino Guimarães MD, PhD,
  • Cristina Barroso Hofer MD, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/11795735221102740
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 may affect both central and peripheral nervous systems. Unlike in adults, in whom majority of severe cases derive from respiratory complications, neurological involvement is one of the main causes of severe COVID-19 in children. This study aimed to detect viral respiratory pathogens, mainly SARS-CoV-2, in nasopharynx and cerebrospinal fluid samples utilizing qRT-PCR (TaqMan) in a pediatric population in Brazil. We evaluated four children with neurological symptoms and laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection: three presenting with meningoencephalitis and one presenting with Guillain-Barré syndrome. All four patients had mild respiratory symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was identified in two cerebrospinal fluid samples. SARS-CoV-2 involvement should be considered for differential diagnosis in pediatric cases presenting neurological alterations even if symptoms such as headache, anosmia, or dizziness are absent.