Neurological Complications with Delayed Onset in Post-COVID-19 Pediatric Patients

Background: Post-COVID-19 neurological complications are central and/or peripheral neurological disorders manifested after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, caused by hitherto vague neuropathogenetic mechanisms. Aims: To explore the acute neurological complications with delayed clinical onset after SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric patients. Methods: We collected our data from the database of patients? charts in Mother Teresa University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania during a twelve-month period. Results: In total 8 children were included in the study. Neurological conditions identified as post-COVID-19 were post-viral encephalitis (N=5), Guillain-Barr? syndrome (N=2) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (N=1). The clinical onset of these conditions varied from 4 to 8 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. The clinical presentation, laboratory, and imagining test results, as well as treatment were diverse among patients and disorders. The mortality was zero. The morbidity should be estimated in longer terms. Conclusions: Our study emphasizes that COVID-19 is a struggling systemic disorder, and suggests that SARS-CoV-2 is a possible trigger factor of both central and peripheral post-COVID-19 neurological conditions in children. Awareness concerning the matter, prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection, follow-up of post-COVID-19 patients and collaboration among health professionals are of particular importance, therefore recommended.