Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the close direct relationship between the development of neurological manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection in paediatric patients, by a systematic review of the literature. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for publications from the start of the pandemic up to 31 December 2022. We included articles that described nervous system manifestations in patients aged 0-18 years with RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab positivity for SARS-CoV-2. Results: The initial search produced 3456 records, of which 37, involving a total of 48 paediatric patients, were included in our systematic review. The neurological complications were heterogeneous, due at least in part to the different age groups considered. In the literature, encephalitis was the most common diagnosis (20.83%). Clinical presentation, diagnostic support, treatment and outcome were analysed both in the literature and in our experience. Conclusions: Neurological impairment can occur with the first clinical presentation of COVID-19, even in previously healthy children and with mild forms of the disease. The clinical presentations are heterogeneous in the different age groups. In most patients the outcome is good and neurological manifestations subside after discharge.

A critical appraisal of neurological evidence on paediatric COVID-19 patients. A systematic literature review

Falsaperla, Raffaele;Gulisano, Chiara;Portale, Laura;Maccarrone, Amanda;Ruggieri, Martino
2023-01-01

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to assess the close direct relationship between the development of neurological manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection in paediatric patients, by a systematic review of the literature. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for publications from the start of the pandemic up to 31 December 2022. We included articles that described nervous system manifestations in patients aged 0-18 years with RT-PCR nasopharyngeal swab positivity for SARS-CoV-2. Results: The initial search produced 3456 records, of which 37, involving a total of 48 paediatric patients, were included in our systematic review. The neurological complications were heterogeneous, due at least in part to the different age groups considered. In the literature, encephalitis was the most common diagnosis (20.83%). Clinical presentation, diagnostic support, treatment and outcome were analysed both in the literature and in our experience. Conclusions: Neurological impairment can occur with the first clinical presentation of COVID-19, even in previously healthy children and with mild forms of the disease. The clinical presentations are heterogeneous in the different age groups. In most patients the outcome is good and neurological manifestations subside after discharge.
2023
Children
Clinical presentations
Diagnostics
Neurological complications
Outcome
SARS-CoV-2
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
A critical appraisal of neurological evidence on paediatric COVID-19 patients.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 3.11 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.11 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/573153
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 2
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 2
social impact