Neurological Manifestations of Covid-19: A Comprehensive Review

Authors

  • Naseem Ahmed Department of Pathology, Dow Medical College Karachi, Pakistan. Author
  • Lahiba Rasheed Khan Dow Medical College, Karachi Pakistan Author
  • Rabia Rasool Dow Medical College, Karachi Pakistan Author
  • Amna Imran Dow Medical College, Karachi Pakistan Author
  • Maria Noor Dow Medical College, Karachi Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21276/f24m5j86

Keywords:

Neurological complications, SARS-Cov-2, Neurological signs, Neurological symptoms, Covid-19, Novel Coronavirus

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic causing virus, SARS-CoV-2 emerged in the year 2019 from China. Since
then, it has inflicted millions of people globally. Common presentations include cough, fever, body
ache, fatigue, and shortness of breath, whereas few people might not develop any symptom. The
main target of this virus is respiratory system; precisely it attacks the ACE-2 receptors of alveolar
cells of lungs. ACE-2 receptors are also found in heart, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, testis, and
brain; hence involvement of these organs is also seen with this disease. An emerging discovery of
invasion of nervous system by this virus has impelled researchers to investigate and understand the
neurological mechanisms and features of COVID-19. The virus can affect Central as well as
Peripheral Nervous System. Peripheral nervous system implications are not critical and include
hypersomnia, ageusia, Guillain barre syndrome, paresthesia, skeletal muscle injury and cranial nerve
involvement, whereas in central nervous system, dizziness, headache, acute cerebrovascular
disease, altered level of consciousness, transverse myelitis, acute hemorrhagic necrotizing
encephalopathy, encephalopathy, encephalitis, epilepsy and ataxia can develop. Neurological
manifestations are particularly seen with severely ill COVID patients.
In this article, we present a comprehensive review of prevalence of various CNS and PNS symptoms
in COVID-19, risk factors, investigations, management, and prognosis related to these. This will aid
the physicians and neurologists in better understanding the course of this illness and the current
statistics of neurological presentations, crucial for handling the disease.

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31.12.2021

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