PD025 - SOMATOSENSORY ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AFTER INFECTION WITH SARS-COV-2 (ID 1513)
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Long-term sequelae, including neurological symptoms, have been reported in children and adolescents following SARS-CoV-2 infection, even after a mild course. Therefore, we examined the somatosensory function in children and adolescents after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a case-control study compared with age-matched controls.
Methods
81 subjects after SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=44 female, 11.4±3.5y, n=75 SARS-CoV-2 seropositive, n=47 asymptomatic infection) were compared to 38 controls without SARS-CoV-2 infection (26 female, 10.3±3·4y, n=15 with other infection within last 6 month). After standardised interviews and neurological examinations, large fibre (tactile and vibration detection thresholds) and small fibre (cold and warm detection thresholds, paradoxical heat sensation) functions were assessed on both feet following a validated protocol. Statistical analyses: t-test, Chi-squared test.
Results:
None of the controls, but 27 of 81 patients (33%, p<0.001) reported persistent complaints 2.7±1.9 (0.8-8.5) months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, most often reduced exercise capacity (16%), fatigue (13%), pain (9%), or paraesthesia (6%). Reflex deficits or paresis were missing, but somatosensory profiles showed significantly increased detection thresholds for thermal and vibration stimuli compared to controls. 36% of the patients after SARS-CoV-2, but none of the controls revealed a sensory loss in at least one parameter (p<0.01). Small fibre dysfunction appeared more frequently in children with prior symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Myalgia/paraesthesia was indicative of somatosensory dysfunction. In all eight re-examined children, the nerve function recovered after 2–4 months.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
This study provides evidence that in a subgroup of children and adolescents previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of their complaints, the function of large or small nerve fibres is presumably reversibly impaired.
/thumbnails/0.jpg)
