Quadriplegia, Dysphagia and Ataxia Manifested in a Child With COVID-19 Related Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy: A Case Report.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, presents primarily with respiratory symptoms. However, children with COVID-19 are usually asymptomatic or mild acute symptoms and also neurological manifestations have also been observed. We report the case of a 7-year-old girl who presented with high fever and altered mental status, leading to a diagnosis of COVID-19 and acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). The patient received intensive medical care in the intensive care unit and subsequently underwent rehabilitation programs due to neurological functional sequelae. Neurological complications in COVID-19, including ANE, may result from potential viral nerve involvement, cytokine storms, and the blood-brain barrier disruption. Early rehabilitation plays a pivotal role in managing COVID-19-related neurological complications and enhancing patients' functional outcomes. Further research is essential to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms and treatment strategies for neurological manifestations in pediatric COVID-19 patients, particularly those with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in child.