Neurologic Manifestations and Complications of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Narrative Review

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic originated in China has caused a severe impact on worldwide health. Respiratory symptoms accompanied by unspecific systemic complaints are the most common presentation. However, neurological symptoms and complications could be found in a patient, and this might confer a poor prognosis. In this view, we aim to present a narrative review of neurological manifestations and complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection by performing literature research. We found nonspecific neurological symptoms such as headache, lethargy, anosmia, and dysgeusia reported in a few cohorts. Case reports of encephalitis, acute necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalopathy, and Guillain-Barré syndrome have also been published. Finally, cerebrovascular complications resulting from a hypercoagulation state, reported in some cases of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, confers higher morbidity, especially in younger patients. Future studies should address the implications of the nervous system manifestations and the possibility of virus permanence in nervous tissue.