Title:COVID-19 and Neurology: An Emerging Association
Volume: 21
Issue: 8
Author(s): Amit Gupta, Prakrati Yadav*Deepak Kumar
Affiliation:
- Department of Internal Medicine All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur Basni phase 2, Jodhpur, ,India
Keywords:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Coronavirus, Neurological manifestations, Neurotropism
Abstract:
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus,
which is a cause of the ongoing pandemic, has the potential to infect the nervous system and cause
neurological manifestations. However, patients with primarily neurological symptoms are often
overlooked, therefore, they are being tested later.
Objective: We aim to summarize all the neurological manifestations that have been reported so far,
to aid in early diagnosis and prevent further complications of the disease.
Methods: We did a literature search on the topic through Google Scholar, PubMed, and WHO resources
by keywords, including coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, clinical features, stroke,
transverse myelitis, encephalitis, encephalopathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, hypogeusia, hyposmia,
anosmia, and neurological manifestations.
Discussion: SARS-CoV-2 can affect the neuronal cells by both direct and indirect mechanisms.
This can lead to various neurological manifestations ranging from subtle symptoms of myalgia,
headache, dizziness, hypogeusia, hyposmia to dreaded complications like stroke, encephalitis, demyelinating
disease like Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Conclusion: Presentation of COVID-19 with neurological features is not uncommon, and these patients
should be tested earlier to help in the prevention of transmission, early diagnosis, and management.
