Headache in patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection: A literature review

Fakhrurrazy, Fakhrurrazy; Pambudi, Pagan; Khatimah, Husnul; Suryonegoro, Satrio; Amalia, Desy; Salsabila, Nadya

Background and aims: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a contagious disease that causes the current pandemic. SARS‐CoV‐2 has been postulated to have a neuroinvasive potential. Headache as a very common non-respiratory symptom of COVID-19. The literature review is intended to explain about headache in patients with SARS-COV-2 infection. Methods: The journals used in literature reviews obtained through databases include Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The search found 26 articles from Google Scholar, 3 from PubMed, and 6 articles from Science Direct. Of all the articles, the selection was made based on the title and abstract, so that 35 articles were obtained. The literature used is not a thesis, dissertation, thesis, or other literature review. The articles used are only journals in full text. So that the number of articles used is 25 articles. Results: From the 25-literature reviewed, headache in COVID-19 patients appears in the prodromal phase and is followed by anosmia/hyposmia. Headache on COVID-19 patients in general were holocranial, hemicranial, or occipital, pressing, and worsens with physical activity or head movements. Pathogenesis of headache on COVID-19 patients still under debated. The mechanism of headache in SARS-CoV-2 is related to cytokine storm and cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Conclusions: Headache is one of the most common neurological manifestations in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The characteristic of headache in patient COVID-19 is typically a headache of moderate to severe intensity with frontal predominance and oppressive quality.