Neurological Implications of COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 infection was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and has been spreading massively throughout the world ever since.

Until May 2020, there have been more than 6 million confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and more than 500 000 deaths in more than 150 countries. The COVID-19 typically causes fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and – in extreme cases may cause multiple organ failure, and eventually – death. However, there have been reported cases that SARS-CoV-2 infection can also affect the nervous system.

In the study published in BJBMS, the group of researchers from Malaysia did a comprehensive literature review that aimed to elucidate the nervous system involvement in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Based on this study, the researchers found that SARS-CoV-2 infection can present with neurological manifestation along with, or independent of respiratory symptoms. This involvement can be explained by multiple possible pathophysiological mechanisms which are also discussed in their article.

The authors hope that their article will raise the awareness among clinicians around the world on the importance to evaluate all COVID-19 patients for neurological symptoms and to rule out SARS-COV-2 infection in any patient presenting with unusual neurological symptoms.

Reference:

Payus AO, Liew Sat Lin C, Mohd Noh M, Jeffree MS, Ali RA. SARS-CoV-2 infection of the nervous system: A review of the literature on neurological involvement in novel coronavirus disease-(COVID-19). Bosn J of Basic Med Sci. 2020

Editor: Edna Skopljak