COVID-19 Symptoms with Pre-Existing and Not Pre-Existing Neurological Disorders in Pediatrics

Abstract

Abstract Objective The symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children with pre-existing neurological disease are unknown. We aimed to find out the difference in the symptoms of children with pre-existing neurological disease and those without. Methods In this single-center, retrospective, cohort study, 96 pediatric patients who had COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021 were enrolled. Results There were 35 males and 61 females. The median age was 14 years (interquartile range [IQR] 10.25–16). Fever (38.5%), headache (35.4%), and cough (32.3%) were the most common symptoms. In 53.1%, neurological complaints (headache, taste-smell loss, vertigo, febrile seizure, coma, and ataxia), in 40.6%, respiratory symptoms (cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, and pharyngitis), and in 8.3%, gastrointestinal symptoms (gastroenteritis, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain) were seen. While 23 (62.2%) patients with fever did not have neurological complaints, 14 (37.8%) had neurological complaints (p = 0.017). Eight (21.6%) patients with fever were hospitalized (p = 0.067). Fever was seen significantly more frequently with pre-existing neurological disease (p < 0.001). Younger children were more likely to have fever (p = 0.008). Headaches and taste–smell loss were seen more frequently in patients with no pre-existing neurological disease (p < 0.001, p = 0.034, respectively). The patients with headaches were older than the ones without headaches (p < 0.001). Patients with headaches and loss of taste and smell were older than those without (p = 0.003). Conclusion Neurological symptoms differed significantly between those who had pre-existing neurological disease and those who did not. Headaches and taste–smell loss were seen more frequently in patients with no pre-existing neurological disease. Fever was significantly higher in patients who had pre-existing neurological disease.