Cerebral Necrotizing Encephalopathy in a 7-year-old Child after being Infected with COVID-19, A Case Report

Iran J Child Neurol. 2024 Winter;18(1):139-144. doi: 10.22037/ijcn.v18i1.39927. Epub 2024 Jan 18.

Abstract

New daily data on the COVID-19 pandemic are circulating globally. This disease usually appears with respiratory symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, and fever. The neurological complications of the disease are somewhat known in adults but rarely reported in children. Acute necrotizing encephalopathy of childhood (ANEC) is one of the brain complications associated‌ with Coronavirus disease that usually has a poor prognosis in children. In this case, we report a rare case of a 7-year-old boy who was referred to the hospital with symptoms of convulsions after contracting COVID-19 and developed cerebral necrotizing encephalopathy caused by COVID-19 infection. Although ANEC is a rare disease, clinical examination and MRI and CT scan findings play an essentialrole in diagnosing and treating the disease.‌.

Keywords: COVID-19; Childhood; Encephalopathy; Seizure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports