Manifestations and neurological complications of COVID 19 in pediatric patients (A Meta-Analysis study)

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. Objectives: To identify manifestations and neurological complications of COVID 19 in pediatric patients. Methods: This study is a meta-analysis type conducted on a previously international computerized databases, review articles, hand searching relevant journal, case reports which are including neurological involvement in COVID 19 pediatric patients. Result: Sixty-seven manifestations and thirty-two neurological complications were reported in the pool of studies included in this studies of a total number of 2374 patient as studies groups. Fever is found to be the most common reported COVID-19 manifestations in pediatric patients (34.54%) followed by cough (23.63%). Conclusion: In conclusion, we reviewed the current literature on pediatric patients with coexisting severe neurological manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infections. Though severe neurological symptoms are not typical manifestations of COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome-children (MIS-C), this review compiles the findings of a number of cases with life-threatening neurological disorders. In addition, many of these patients were unaware of COVID-19 exposure and positivity upon arrival to the hospital, so testing is warranted to prevent infectious spread.