Brain MRI Findings In Children With Convulsions Secondary to Covid-19 Infection

Background: The aim of the current study was to investigate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in children who developed convulsions after COVID-19 infection.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective screening was made of paediatric cases who presented at the COVID-19 pandemic clinic with suspected COVID-19 infection between March 2020 and June 2021 and were diagnosed with COVID-19 from a positive real-time polymerase chain reaction test (qRT-PCR). Non-contrast brain and diffusion MRI performed using a 3-Tesla device in all patients with convulsions. The demographic characteristics and brain MRI findings were recorded of cases with COVID-19 infection who developed convulsions.
Results: Evaluation was made of 6 cases who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and developed convulsions during the disease course. There was a history of convulsions in 3 patients and recurrent convulsion attacks developed despite anticonvulsant therapy. In the other 3 cases developed convulsion, there was no history of convulsions, or additional disease. Non-contrast brain MRI was taken for etiology in all patients. In all the cases, no signal changes of acute pathologies were detected on diffusion MRI.
Conclusion: COVID-19 infection can trigger convulsions even in patients with epilepsy and taking anticonvulsant therapy and may cause convulsions in previously healthy cases. Unlike in the adult patient population, COVID-19 infection was not seen to cause acute changes in brain MRI findings in the pediatric age group who developed convulsions due to COVID-19 infection.