Affiliation:
1. Pediatric Neurology Division, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249203, India
2. Department of Medicine, SCB Medical College, Cuttack, Odisha 753007, India
3. Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Knowledge about neurological complications of COVID-19 in children is limited due to the paucity of data in the existing literature. Some systematic reviews are available describing overall clinical features of COVID-19 in children and neurological complications of COVID-19 in adults. But to the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has been performed to determine neurological manifestations of COVID-19.
Methods
Six different electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, medRxiv and bioRxiv) were searched for articles related to COVID-19 and neurological complications in children. Studies/case series reporting neurological manifestations of COVID-19 in patients aged ≤18 years, as well as case reports, as neurological complications appear to be rare. The pooled estimate of various non-specific and specific neurological manifestations was performed using a random effect meta-analysis.
Results
Twenty-one studies/case series and five case reports (3707 patients) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in this systematic review, from a total of 460 records. Headache, myalgia and fatigue were predominant non-specific neurological manifestations, presenting altogether in 16.7% cases. Total of 42 children (1%) were found to have been reported with definite neurological complications, more in those suffering from a severe illness (encephalopathy—25, seizure—12, meningeal signs—17). Rare neurological complications were intracranial hemorrhage, cranial nerve palsy, Guillain–Barré syndrome and vision problems. All children with acute symptomatic seizures survived suggesting a favorable short-term prognosis.
Conclusion
Neurological complications are rare in children suffering from COVID-19. Still, these children are at risk of developing seizures and encephalopathy, more in those suffering from severe illness.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cited by
92 articles.
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