Abstract
As the Covid pandemic evolves, reports of neurological manifestations and neuroimaging associated with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in children and in neonates, although very few when compared to adults. Objective: 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 via real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) amplification of virus acid from a nasopharyngeal swab. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed using axial T1, T2, FLAIR and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and T1 post contrast sequences. Results: Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion in the periventricular white matter, subcortical white matter and splenium of corpus callosum. Discussion: Neurological presentation of SARS-CoV-2 in newborns appears to be rare and is not fully known. SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered in newborns with seizures and white matter abnormalities.
- Received August 20, 2021.
- Accepted January 12, 2022.
- © 2022 American Academy of Neurology
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