NEUROCOVID: Experience of a Sub-Saharan African country, example of Senegal

Kahwagi, J.; Mbodj, A.; Diagne, R.; Toure, K.; Ndiaye, M.; Diop, A.

Background and Aims: Initially barely affected by the COVID-19, the African continent suffered a second violent wave this winter. Neurological manifestations worldwide are increasingly reported, dominated by encephalitis, stroke and polyradiculoneuritis. We report the Senegalese experience of Neurocovid through a series of 9 patients. Methods: This is a prospective study of patients hospitalized in the neurology department of Fann. Were included patients who had neurological manifestations during or following an COVID-19 infection defined by a positive PCR or a recent infection with ELISA serology or typical chest imaging. Results: We collected 9 patients (6 men and 3 women), aged 7 to 80 years. Diagnoses were: 3 encephalitis, 4 polyradiculoneuritis, 1 hemorrhagic stroke and 1 chorea. 4 patients had comorbidities. The delay for neurological signs appearance was 11.1 days. A nasal swab was positive on 5/8 patients. Antibodies were found in all 3 negative patients. The LCR study showed hyperproteinorrachia in 7/9 patients. 5 patients underwent CT chest scan, showing ground glass opacities. Brain imaging was normal in 3 and pathological in 2, showing a parietal temporo hematoma fx1 in one and mesencephalic and parietal hypersignal in the other fx2 50% of patients with polyradiculoneuritis had an ENMG that showed an AIDP. One patient had an electroencephalogram that showed an overall slowing of the pattern with diffuse pseudoperiodic complexes fx3. Evolution was good for 6 patients but we noticed 3 deaths. [Formula presented] [Formula presented] [Formula presented] Conclusions: Neurological manifestations most often occur in post-infection. The creation of a multidisciplinary team will allow a better understanding of the sequel as of patients with COVID-19.