ABSTRACT
The infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, recently described in Wuhan, China, has put numerous health systems around the world in check. Given its high contagiousness and the exponential growth of cases, it was declared a pandemic by the world health organization. Although the majority of those infected will present mild symptoms, a smaller percentage will present severe manifestations of the disease, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, requiring ventilator support measures and stays in intensive care units. The main symptoms described in SARS-CoV-2 infection are fever, fatigue, dry cough and myalgia. Despite this, there is a not insignificant number of patients who present with atypical symptoms of the disease, some described are anosmia, ageusia, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, dermatological manifestations, among others. In these patients it is particularly where the diagnosis is made late, delaying isolation and prevention measures, thus increasing the risk of contagion within the population.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Pandemics , COVID-19 , Quarantine , Ageusia , COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing , Anosmia , Olfaction Disorders/complicationsABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds worldwide, different forms of reports have described its neurologic manifestations. Objective: To review the literature on neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: Literature search performed following systematic reviews guidelines, using specific keywords based on the COVID-19 neurological complications described up to May 10th, 2020. Results: A total of 43 articles were selected, including data ranging from common, non-specific symptoms, such as hyposmia and myalgia, to more complex and life-threatening conditions, such as cerebrovascular diseases, encephalopathies, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Conclusion: Recognition of neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 should be emphasized despite the obvious challenges faced by clinicians caring for critical patients who are often sedated and presenting other concurrent systemic complications.
RESUMO Introdução: À medida que a pandemia da COVID-19 se desenvolve em todo o mundo, diferentes tipos de publicações descreveram suas manifestações neurológicas. Objetivo: Revisar a literatura sobre complicações neurológicas da infecção por SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: A pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada seguindo diretrizes de revisões sistemáticas, usando palavras-chave específicas baseadas nas complicações neurológicas da COVID-19 descritas até 10 de maio de 2020. Resultados: Foram selecionados 43 artigos, incluindo descrições que variam de sintomas comuns e inespecíficos, como hiposmia e mialgia, a condições mais complexas e com risco de vida, como doenças cerebrovasculares, encefalopatias e síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Conclusão: O reconhecimento das manifestações neurológicas da SARS-CoV-2 deve ser enfatizado apesar dos óbvios desafios enfrentados pelos clínicos que cuidam de pacientes críticos, muitas vezes sedados e apresentando outras complicações sistêmicas concomitantes.