Neurological manifestations of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric patients: a 3-year study

Abstract

Purpose This study analyzed the neurological manifestation profiles of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection across pandemic waves in pediatric patients. Methods This retrospective study analyzed the data of patients aged 0–18 years who were diagnosed with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and admitted to a pediatric tertiary hospital between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2023. The presence of neurological manifestations was established based on the symptoms noted in each patient chart. The relationships between neurological manifestations and pandemic waves or age groups were assessed using the chi-square test. Results This study included 1677 patients. Neurological manifestations were noted in 10% (n = 168) of patients with a 3.2 years median age (interquartile range: 1–11.92). Neurological manifestations were significantly associated with the pandemic waves (p = 0.006) and age groups (p < 0.001). Seizures were noted in 4.2% of cases and reached an increasing frequency over time (p = 0.001), but were not associated with age groups. Febrile seizures accounted for the majority of seizures. Headache was reported in 2.6% of cases and had similar frequencies across the pandemic waves and age groups. Muscular involvement was noted in 2% of cases and reached a decreasing frequency over time (p < 0.001) and showed different frequencies among the age groups. Conclusions Neurological manifestations of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection exhibit distinct patterns, depending on the pandemic wave and patient age group. The Wuhan and Omicron waves involved the nervous system more often than the other waves; however, this was probably through different mechanisms.