Objective:

This study aims to describe the clinical features and outcomes of Hispanic pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 encephalitis at a specialized pediatric hospital.

Background:

COVID-19 has been associated with neurological complications in pediatric patients, including encephalitis. Understanding the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these cases is crucial for better management and prognosis.

Design/Methods:

A retrospective clinical case series was conducted, reviewing the records of pediatric patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 encephalitis. Data collected included age, gender, length of hospital stay, clinical symptoms (headache, fever, seizure, altered mental status, and nuchal rigidity), Glasgow coma score, need for mechanical ventilation, neurological focality, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis (cell count, glucose, protein), white blood cell count, and mortality.

Results:

The study included 20 patients, with a mean age of 5.7 ± 5.04 years. The cohort consisted of 12 males (60%) and 8 females (40%). The average length of hospital stay was 12.5 ± 5.44 days. Clinical symptoms were prevalent, with seizures observed in 90% (n=18), fever in 80% (n=16), and altered mental status in 65% (n=13). Neurological focality was noted in 60% (n=12) of the cases. CSF analysis revealed a mean cell count of 108.95 ± 243.55 cells/mm³, with elevated glucose levels in 45% (n=9) of cases. Mortality was recorded in 15% (n=3) of patients.

Conclusions:

Pediatric COVID-19 encephalitis presents with significant neurological manifestations and a notable length of hospital stay. The high incidence of seizures and altered mental status highlights the need for vigilant monitoring and management in this population. Further research is warranted to elucidate long-term outcomes and recovery patterns.