Headache and pleocytosis in CSF associated with COVID-19: case report

Neurol Sci. 2020 Nov;41(11):3021-3022. doi: 10.1007/s10072-020-04694-x. Epub 2020 Sep 2.

Abstract

In December 2019, a new coronavirus infection was identified in China. Although the clinical presentation of COVID-19 is predominantly respiratory, more than 35%% of patients have neurological symptoms. We report an elderly female with asthenia, dry cough, anosmia, ageusia, fever, nausea, and a severe and persistent headache. She had confirmed COVID-19 using the nasal swab RT-PCR technique. Her cranial tomography was normal. The CSF analysis demonstrated a cell count of 21 cells/mm3 (80% lymphocytes and 20% monocytes), 34 mg/dl protein, and 79 mg/dl glucose. She improved after 4 days. Our report draws attention to the meningeal involvement of SARS-Cov-2.

Keywords: COVID-19; Headache; Headache disorders, secondary; Meningitis; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Female
  • Headache / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Leukocytosis / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Meningitis, Viral / virology
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / cerebrospinal fluid*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • SARS-CoV-2