COVID-19: ITS NEUROLOGICAL EXPOSITIONS

K JITENDRA SAINATH REDDY

Davao Medical School Foundation, Davao city, Philippines

Abstract

The epic outbreak of COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2) a variant of novel corona virus from Wuhan, China in late 2019 has evolved into a global pandemic have been showing its significant signature symptoms on respiratory cardiovascular axis. As cases were growing exponentially it has become increasingly evident on showing neurological manifestations on many of the patients suffering with COVID-19. So I would like to address some of the clinical neurological manifestations shown by COVID-19 as a detailed review of some studies and case reports. The novel corona virus is known to affect central nervous system causing many neurological issues by choosing vascular paths or may disseminate through olfactory nerves via nasal epithelium. The consequences of direct or indirect viral invasion into PNS and CNS have been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection had caused anosmia, hypogeusia, myalgia, malaise, headache, dizziness, Guillain-Barre syndrome, impaired consciousness, epilepsy, vision loss, encephalitis related fever and acute cerebrovascular disease mediated by metabolic changes, hypoxia, inflammation and immune reactions in various cases reported worldwide with a range of mild to severe symptoms. Cerebrovascular events such as Ischemic or haemorrhagic stroke, peripheral nerve related neuromuscular injuries and altered mental status such as alteration in personality, behaviour, cognition, or consciousness are seen in severe cases. Though COVID-19 neurological manifestations were secondary and the patients proportion with neurological symptoms is low compared with other symptoms, it is importance to diagnose the direct and indirect impacts on nervous system. From the global scenario and the recent reports on neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients it is important to address in a multidisciplinary approach.

Keywords: Corona virus; neurological manifestations; olfactory nerve; hypoxia; cerebrovascular