COVID-19 Infection Presenting as Acute Onset Focal Status Epilepticus in a Nine Year Old Boy

Abstract

Estimates suggest children currently account for 1%-5% of diagnosed COVID-19 cases [1,2]. Available literature focusing on children is limited in comparison to adults but suggests the clinical spectrum of illness in the pediatric population associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is distinct from and broader than that in the adults. The most frequently reported symptoms in adults with COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, fatigue, and in severe cases dyspnea is common [3]. Children, when symptomatic, also present with fever and cough, but a significant proportion present with atypical symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea [4,5]. A large proportion of COVID-19 positive children are asymptomatic or have mild cases of disease [6,7]. This difference in presentation and severity may lead to underdiagnosis in children facilitating spread of the disease [8]. This report documents the first reported case of a COVID-19 positive child presenting with focal status epilepticus.