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J Pediatr Infect Dis 2022; 17(03): 163-169
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748921
Original Article

COVID-19 Symptoms with Pre-Existing and Not Pre-Existing Neurological Disorders in Pediatrics

Authors

  • Sevgi Yimenicioglu 

    1   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Health Ministry Eskisehir City Hospital, Eskisehir, Turkey

  • Arzu Ekici 

    2   Department of Pediatric Neurology, Health Ministry Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim Arastirma Hastanesi, Bursa, Turkey

Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective The symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children with pre-existing neurological disease are unknown. We aimed to find out the difference in the symptoms of children with pre-existing neurological disease and those without.

Methods In this single-center, retrospective, cohort study, 96 pediatric patients who had COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021 were enrolled.

Results There were 35 males and 61 females. The median age was 14 years (interquartile range [IQR] 10.25–16). Fever (38.5%), headache (35.4%), and cough (32.3%) were the most common symptoms. In 53.1%, neurological complaints (headache, taste-smell loss, vertigo, febrile seizure, coma, and ataxia), in 40.6%, respiratory symptoms (cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, and pharyngitis), and in 8.3%, gastrointestinal symptoms (gastroenteritis, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain) were seen. While 23 (62.2%) patients with fever did not have neurological complaints, 14 (37.8%) had neurological complaints (p = 0.017). Eight (21.6%) patients with fever were hospitalized (p = 0.067). Fever was seen significantly more frequently with pre-existing neurological disease (p < 0.001). Younger children were more likely to have fever (p = 0.008). Headaches and taste–smell loss were seen more frequently in patients with no pre-existing neurological disease (p < 0.001, p = 0.034, respectively). The patients with headaches were older than the ones without headaches (p < 0.001). Patients with headaches and loss of taste and smell were older than those without (p = 0.003).

Conclusion Neurological symptoms differed significantly between those who had pre-existing neurological disease and those who did not. Headaches and taste–smell loss were seen more frequently in patients with no pre-existing neurological disease. Fever was significantly higher in patients who had pre-existing neurological disease.

Keywords

COVID-19 - neurological symptoms - pediatric patients

Note

The patient with encephalitis was reported as a case report elsewhere. The patient with ataxia was reported as a case report elsewhere.




Publication History

Received: 01 January 2022

Accepted: 29 March 2022

Article published online:
30 May 2022

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