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Published on: May 23, 2013
Case of COVID-19-induced vestibular neuritis in a child
Sara Giannantonio1, Alessandro Scorpecci2, Berardo Montemurri2
1Audiology and Otosurgery Department, "Bambino Gesù" Children's Hospital, Rome, Lazio, Italy sara.giannantonio@opbg.net.
Insights
A child with COVID-19 experienced only vertigo and fever, suggesting a rare presentation of the virus. This case highlights the importance of considering coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pediatric vertigo cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates understanding its diverse clinical presentations, particularly in children.
- Unusual manifestations of COVID-19 require thorough investigation.
Observation:
- A pediatric case exclusively presenting with vertigo and fever during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in the patient.
Findings:
- The clinical presentation was attributed to COVID-19-induced vestibular neuritis.
- Symptoms resolved spontaneously, indicating effective central nervous system compensation.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider COVID-19 in pediatric patients presenting with vertigo.
- This case adds to the limited literature on pediatric COVID-19 neurological manifestations.
Abstract:
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing need to fully understand all the possible clinical features of the epidemic, which often presents with unusual manifestations, especially in children. In this report, we describe the case of a child with a COVID-19 infection and suffering exclusively from vertigo and fever. Altogether, considering the clinical manifestation, laboratory tests and imaging, given the patient's positivity to SARS-CoV-2 infection and its neurotropic potential, we assumed that the child had COVID-19-induced vestibular neuritis, which, in consideration of the spontaneous improvement of symptoms, did not require any therapeutic adjustments, apart from the natural compensation of the central nervous system.This case suggests the importance of having an index of suspicion for a COVID-19 infection in patients with paediatrics presenting with vertigo and adds valuable information to the limited literature on COVID-19 presentation and management in children.
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