Background and aims
Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 are being recognized day by day although predominant presentation is of respiratory illness. Understanding of impact of the virus on nervous system is important for selection and evolution of treatment now and in the future. The aim of the study was to describe the manifestations of COVID-19 affecting nervous system in a tertiary care hospital of Bangladesh.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Neurology, (BIRDEM) General Hospital from March, 2020 to October, 2020. Total forty patients who were admitted under neurology department were included in the study. Clinical syndromes associated with COVID-19 were classified broadly as a cerebrovascular event, altered mental status and peripheral nervous system disorders.
Results
Median age of the patients was 58.6 years (range 22–73). Among those, 26 (65%) were male and 14 (35%) were female. Twenty two (55%) of 40 patients presented with cerebrovascular event, of whom 15 (68%) had an ischaemic stroke, 5 (23%) an intracerebral haemorrhage. 2 (9%) patients were diagnosed as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Apart from cerebrovascular events, 14 (35%) of 40 patients presented with altered mental status, comprising 9 (64%) patients with unspecified encephalopathy and 5 (36%) patients with encephalitis. Four (10%) patients were diagnosed as peripheral nervous system disorder among those 2 (50%) as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and 2 (50%) as Bell’s palsy.
Conclusions
We have found cerebrovascular disease, encephalopathy and peripheral nervous system disorder as presentation of COVID-19 in our study. Further nationwide study is needed to quantify the association and disease burden.