Seizure is a rare presenting manifestation of COVID-19

Keshavarzi, Abdolkhalegh; Janbabaei, Ghasem; Kheyrati, Leila; Ghavamabad, Leila Hoseini; Asadi-Pooya, Ali A.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate whether seizure is among the presenting manifestations of COVID-19. METHODS: All patients referred to emergency rooms anywhere in Iran between 12 and 25 April 2020 and who were sufficiently ill to require hospital admission with COVID-19, confirmed by a positive COVID-19 test, were studied. Data on the presenting manifestations were collected. RESULTS: Of 5,872 people, who were admitted to hospitals in Iran with COVID-19 during the study period, 45 came to the emergency room with seizures. This makes seizure as the presenting manifestation of COVID-19 in 0.8% of all patients with a severe illness. 93% of the patients were 15 years of age and older. Four of the individuals presenting with seizures (9%) had a past history of epilepsy. Fifteen of these individuals (33%) had other chronic medical conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, etc.). CONCLUSION: This case series provides evidence that seizures are among the presenting manifestations of COVID-19 in 0.8% of the patients who are admitted to hospital due to a severe illness.