Open AccessFacial Diplegia as a Rare Late Neurologic Manifestation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Author(s) -
Casey Judge,
Negar Moheb,
Ramiro Castro Apolo,
Joy L Dupont,
Michelle L Gessner,
Hussam A. Yacoub
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of neurology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1923-2853
pISSN - 1923-2845
DOI - 10.14740/jnr606
Subject(s) - medicine , diplegia , etiology , emergency department , covid-19 , pediatrics , cerebrospinal fluid , cerebral palsy , physical therapy , disease , psychiatry , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Multiple recent publications have reported numerous neurologic complications of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Among these is Guillain-Barre syndrome and its variants, including facial diplegia. In this case we present a patient with facial diplegia following a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient initially presented with respiratory symptoms and subsequently developed bilateral facial weakness approximately 3 weeks later prompting an emergency department (ED) visit. Extensive laboratory and imaging workup was negative for other etiologies. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was notable only for mild elevation in white blood cells and protein. Patients with acute neurologic symptoms should be evaluated carefully regarding recent infections or possible exposures to help identify and minimize late complications of this novel virus.