COVID-19 encephalopathy: an unusual presentation with new-onset seizure causing convulsive status epilepticus

Authors

Aisha Fareed Siddiqui, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Sheema Saadia, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Taymmia Ejaz, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Zain Mushtaq, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Case Report

Department

Internal Medicine

Abstract

Although neurological manifestations such as headache and myalgias have been observed with COVID-19, presentation with more serious neurological illness is uncommon and rare. We report a case of a middle-aged woman who presented to the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital. Her clinical presentation was primarily neurological rather than the more common presentation with respiratory manifestations. She presented with generalised tonic-clonic seizures, along with history of undocumented low-grade fever and generalised body aches. The positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR nasal swab, the cerebrospinal fluid analysis (lymphocytic pleocytosis) and electroencephalogram were consistent with viral encephalitis; brain imaging was unremarkable. This case highlights the variable presenting features of COVID-19 infection as patients can primarily present with neurological manifestations in the absence of significant respiratory symptoms. We believe it is important to recognise neurological disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with asymptomatic respiratory infection

Comments

Pagination are not provided by the author/publisher

Publication (Name of Journal)

BMJ case reports

Recommended Citation

Siddiqui, A. F., Saadia, S., Ejaz, T., Mushtaq, Z. (2022). COVID-19 encephalopathy: an unusual presentation with new-onset seizure causing convulsive status epilepticus. BMJ case reports, 15(3).
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_med_intern_med/213