Epilepsy care in the COVID-19 era

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic will impact on how care for chronic conditions is delivered. We use epilepsy to exemplify how care for patients will be affected, and suggest ways in which healthcare systems can respond to deliver the most effective care. Where face-to-face outpatient appointments have been cancelled, telemedicine can facilitate remote clinical consultations for new and follow-up epilepsy clinic patients while reducing the risk of infection to both patients and healthcare staff. First-seizure patients will need investigation pathways rationalised, while those with chronic epilepsy will need to have reliable alternative avenues to access clinical advice. At the same time, neurologists should support emergency departments and acute medical units, advising on appropriate management of seizures and other acute neurological presentations. Ultimately, the revolution in our clinical practice is unlikely to cease after this pandemic, with reconfiguration of services likely to bring improvements in efficiency and convenience, and a reduced environmental impact.

Responses of people with epilepsy to the COVID-19 pandemic in the time of national lockdown

“…We think that this negative psychological effect could be reduced by adequate communication between patients and epilepsy service providers. In line with the views presented in several articles dealing with the issues of the epilepsy service at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , we think telemedicine should be introduced into outpatient clinical practice as soon as possible.…”

COVID-19 Associated Cerebral Infarction in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report

“…As con rmed and dead cases grow sustainably, SARS-Cov-2 has caused enormous loss in global public health and economy. Currently, several reports have proved that SARS-Cov-2 affects cerebral neurons resulting in insomnia, headache, stroke, mild cognitive impairment, epilepsy and encephalorrhagia [11,12]. As we all know that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS) in uences nervous system and induces polyneuropathy, encephalitis, ischemic stroke [13,14].…”

Doctors race to understand epilepsy in the time of COVID-19

“…Thus, the neurological implications of SARS-CoV-2 infection have received special attention [ 3 ], and neuroscientists have established consensus recommendations on how to provide the best possible care for people with epilepsy during the novel coronavirus 2019 era [ 1 , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] ]. In this context, although the medical team's first reaction was to limit access to clinics and neurological centers to preserve patients with epilepsy from being infected [ 10 ], some interesting proposals regarding healthcare facilities logistics, medical procedures and treatment (ensuring a regular supply of antiepileptic drugs), and telemedicine have also been discussed among various epileptologists operating in different regions of the world [ 4 , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] ]. Considering this last aspect, the SARS-CoV-2 crisis has obliged physicians to adopt telemedicine in a very accelerated way to maintain essential care for patients with epilepsy during the pandemic [ 11 , 12 ].…”