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Focal Seizures in a Child Following COVID-19 Infection: A Case Report

Janardhan Mydam1, Srinivas Midivelly2, Pujitha Vallivedu Chennakesavulu3

  • 1Neonatology, John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, USA.

Cureus
|February 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

This case report describes a six-year-old child with COVID-19 who developed meningoencephalitis and focal seizures. Steroid treatment significantly reduced seizure frequency, indicating a potential therapeutic role in COVID-19-related neurological complications.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can affect multiple organs, including the brain, even in asymptomatic cases.
  • Neurological manifestations in children due to COVID-19 are increasingly recognized.
  • Focal seizures can be a presenting symptom of central nervous system involvement in pediatric COVID-19.

Observation:

  • A six-year-old male child presented with focal seizures and was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis.
  • Initial treatment with antibiotics, antipyretics, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) did not improve the patient's condition.
  • COVID-19 infection was confirmed via nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs.

Findings:

  • Treatment with intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) and steroids led to a dramatic decrease in seizure frequency.
  • Seizures recurred after steroid discontinuation but were less frequent and manageable with AEDs.
  • The child remained seizure-free at six months post-discharge.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for COVID-19 to cause severe neurological complications like meningoencephalitis and seizures in children.
  • Corticosteroid therapy may be an effective treatment for reducing seizure activity in pediatric COVID-19-associated encephalitis.
  • Early recognition and targeted treatment are crucial for managing neurological sequelae of COVID-19 in pediatric patients.

Keywords:
case reportchild healthcovid-19focal seizuresintravenous immunoglobulins (ivig)methyl-prednisoloneneurology

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