Abstract
Because the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, reports of neurologic manifestations and neuroimaging associated with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in children and in neonates, although very few when compared with adults.
Objectives To describe a 3-day-old neonate presenting afebrile seizures with a persistent positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and neuroimaging demonstrating extensive cerebral white matter injury.
Methods Consent was obtained to report this case. SARS-CoV-2 was tested using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction amplification of virus acid from a nasopharyngeal swab. MRI of the brain was performed using axial T1, T2, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, diffusion-weighted imaging, and T1 postcontrast sequences.
Results Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion in the periventricular white matter, subcortical white matter, and splenium of the corpus callosum.
Discussion Neurologic presentation of SARS-CoV-2 in newborns seems to be rare and is not fully known. SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered in newborns with seizures and white matter abnormalities.
Footnotes
Funding information and disclosures are provided at the end of the article. Full disclosure form information provided by the authors is available with the full text of this article at Neurology.org/cp.
Submitted and externally peer reviewed. The handling editor was Luca Bartolini, MD.
- Received August 20, 2021.
- Accepted January 12, 2022.
- © 2022 American Academy of Neurology
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