ABSTRACT
Background & Objective: Tension-type headache (TTH) is the most common primary headache. TTH worsens quality of life and is related to various psychosocial factors. We aimed to examine the severity of headache (intensity, frequency, and duration), analgesic use, quality of life (QoL), and the impact of COVID pandemic-induced stress in TTH patients. Method(s): TTH cases seen at neurology outpatient clinics in 15 centers in Turkey were included in the study. A questionnaire incorporating sociodemographic and medical information, headache features, sleep quality, general quality of life, and impact of the pandemic event was administered to the subjects. Result(s): A total of 975 TTH patients were evaluated. Headache severity was higher in women as well as in patients with a history of COVID-19 contact. Women, those with chronic diseases, and cases with a COVID-19 contact history had worse perceptions of quality of life and were affected to a greater extent by the pandemic. The factors affecting the impact of the pandemic were female gender and difficulty in access to health services for headache. Co-existing chronic diseases and lost productive time due to headaches were negative determinants for both QoL and the impact of the pandemic. Conclusion(s): Our results show that the COVID pandemic severely worsened the headache burden, quality of life and mental health of TTH patients. These findings can guide us in the clinical approach to TTH cases. Copyright © 2022, ASEAN Neurological Association. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) have been reported following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we describe a case that evolved from GBS to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) after COVID-19 in terms of contributing to the literature due to its different aspects. In the cerebrospinal fluid examination of the acute onset mixed type polyneuropathy case, albuminocytological dissociation was not detected. The patient was given a loading dose and monthly maintenance intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for six months. Blood ferritin levels gradually decreased in parallel with clinical improvement. Four months after the IVIG treatment was terminated, the findings recurred and the CIDP was developed and IVIG treatment was continued. Long-term follow-up of post-COVID-19 GBS patients is important in terms of recurrence and chronicity. Ferritin level may be a biochemical marker in the clinical follow-up of these cases.