COVID-19 Outbreak: Neurological Manifestations Beyond Cough and Fever

Abstract

COVID-19 is one of the most disastrous respiratory diseases (after the 1918 influenza outbreak) spreading in the community. So far, it has killed 7,37,417 individuals. High variability in the viral genome and its greater ability to spread in the human community are badly affecting the comorbid individuals. Although infected individuals mainly possess respiratory issues, neurological manifestations in these individuals cannot be overlooked. The literature search is based on the recent development in the concerned field. We searched databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using the keywords “COVID-19”, “neurological manifestations”, “CNS”, and “PNS”. The major neurological complications observed in these patients are encephalitis, necrotising haemorrhagic encephalopathy, Guillain-Barré Syndrome, smell/taste impairment, epileptic seizures, and abnormal states of consciousness. COVID-19 infection is just more than a cough, fever, and respiratory illness; it can cause indirect neurological complications in infected patients. It is therefore advised to treat and have a careful observation of the COVID-19 patients for neurological manifestations.