Severe neurological complications in a child with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children after asymptomatic COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) usually leads to a mild infectious disease course in children, but serious neurological complications have been described in association with both acute infection and the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Cerebrovascular disorders (CVD) in children are rare complication of MIS-C, and various potential mechanisms of CVD in MIS-C have been hypothesized. Case outline In an eight-year old girl, diagnosis of MIS-C was made according to clinical features of prolonged fever, circulatory shock, heart and renal insufficiency, skin abnormalities, conjunctival hyperemia, and stomach pain associated with laboratory findings (increased CRP, D-dimers, pro BNP, troponins, IL-6), supported by positive contact with SARS-CoV2 one month before the disease onset and increased IgG and IgM anti-SARS-CoV2 antibodies. From the second day of hospitalization, left-side hemiplegia was observed, and using brain CT and MR, CVD was diagnosed. Together with cardiovascular support, corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin were administered. On the fourth day of hospitalization, diagnosis of cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS) was made according to severe dehydration, polyuria, hyponatremia, increased natriuria, and increased urine: serum osmolality ratio. CSWS had very severe course lasting more than one month. The girl was discharged with stable vital signs, normal diuresis and hemiparesis. Conclusion This is the first case in the literature presenting association of severe CSWS and CVD in a child with MIS-C after COVID-19. © 2024, Serbia Medical Society. All rights reserved.