Catatonic syndrome as the presentation of encephalitis in association with COVID-19

BMJ Case Rep. 2021 Jun 4;14(6):e240550. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-240550.

Abstract

COVID-19 has shown different neurological manifestations even sometimes there are the initial or the main presentation.The following case report is about a middle-aged woman who, over 3 days, developed fever, clinical neurological alterations (stupor, muteness, fixed gaze and catatonia), cerebrospinal fluid (16 lymphocytes) and an electroencephalogram (EEG) (4-6 Hz generalised activity) with characteristics of encephalitis. A serum IgG, IgM, nasopharyngeal swab PCR for SARS-CoV-2. The patient responded positively to support measures, symptomatic and corticosteroid treatment. At discharge, the patient was independent and improved considerably.We report the presence of catatonia as a possible and atypical manifestation of encephalitis in association with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; infection (neurology); infectious diseases; neurology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Catatonia* / diagnosis
  • Catatonia* / etiology
  • Electroencephalography
  • Encephalitis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • SARS-CoV-2