Neurological effects of COVID-19 in infants and children

Dev Med Child Neurol. 2022 Jul;64(7):818-829. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15185. Epub 2022 Mar 3.

Abstract

Neurological manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children are becoming increasingly apparent as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues. While children manifest relatively milder features of the disease, accumulating evidence warrants concern that COVID-19 exacts both acute- and long-term effects on the developing central and peripheral nervous systems. This review focuses on the relatively underinvestigated topic of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain in infancy and childhood, concluding that clinicians should be attentive to both the acute effects and long-term consequences of COVID-19 from a neurological perspective.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain
  • COVID-19*
  • Child
  • Humans
  • Nervous System Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Nervous System Diseases* / etiology
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2