Neurological complications and effects of COVID-19: Symptoms and conceivable mechanisms


Sarıoğlu E., Sarıaltın S., ÇOBAN T.

Brain Hemorrhages, vol.4, no.3, pp.154-173, 2023 (Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 4 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2023
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.hest.2023.02.001
  • Journal Name: Brain Hemorrhages
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.154-173
  • Keywords: COVID-19, Neurological manifestations, Neurotoxicity, Novel coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 can invade the nervous system aside from infecting the respiratory system as its primary target. The most common nervous system symptoms of COVID-19 are stated as headache, myalgia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sudden and unexplained anosmia, and ageusia. More severe conditions such as encephalomyelitis, acute myelitis, thromboembolic events, ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, Guillain-Barré-syndrome, Bell's palsy, rhabdomyolysis, and even coma have also been reported. Cohort studies revealed that neurological findings are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. The neurological symptoms and manifestations caused by SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are examined and summarized in this article.