Pseudo Bulbar Palsy a Rare NEURO-COVID Presentation

Abstract

Background: The Global pandemic of COVID-19 with more than half million people passed away from their families tragically, wide variety of signs and symptoms resulted from this Novel SARS Cov2 virus. Although the respiratory and Gastro-intestinal symptoms are dominant, however, neurological symptoms whether specific or nonspecific have been reported. Till now the extents of knowledge regarding the neurological sequel of COVID-19 infection are finite. Pseudo Bulbar Palsy is a neurological disease characterised by dysarthria, dysphagia, facial and tongue weakness in addition to emotional liability resulted from an upper motor neuron lesion in the corticoid bulbar tracts. Peripheral neuropathy, Demyelisation and vascularise are underlying aetiologies. This will result in deglutition, and speech disturbance. Case presentation: 60 years old male from Najaf, went to the emergency department with three days history of drowsiness and anorexia after COVID-19 related fever and myalgias. He had significant risk factors. He had 2 weeks fever following a contact with COVID-19 patient. Examination revealed drowsiness, dehydration, the patient was not aware for time and place, eye refluxes was symmetrical. The face was normal with exaggerated jaw jerk CT of the chest showed evidence of COVID-19 infection confirmed by positive PCR. Brain CT showed only brain atrophy without signs of localised ischemia. Farther blood investigations confirm activity of infection. During this the patient developed tonic clonic convulsion required anticonvulsant therapy; he remained semiconscious, with difficulty to swallow and dysarthria, Irritability, drowsiness and disorientation. He received anticoagulant, Steroids, mannitol. The condition improved and the patient discharged in better condition with two weeks anticoagulation. Discussion: this is a story for a rare complication belong to COVID-19 infection, treated as a stroke, as mention in literatures, many recorded cases of Neurocovid that required treatment accordingly. Conclusion: neurological symptoms of COVID-19are extreme and might be nonspecific but some time life threatening, these might overlap severe infection. The improvement in the neurological sequel overlap the COVID-19 improvement both clinical aspect and investigation.