Neurological disorders associated to coronavirus infection

Abstract

Started as a form of atypical pneumonia concerning only a limited area in China it has become a worldwide issue that may affect our bodies entirely. Since its onset in late 2019, the Coronavirus infection has taken many shapes and forms, some of which take their toll on the nervous system. On average neurological symptoms begin 10-12 days after the flu-like ones and come in a wide range: encephalopathy and encephalitis, cerebrovascular disease, epilepsy or Guillan-Barré syndrome. Pathophysiological events that lead Coronavirus infection to nervous system disorders are not completely understood- there are both para-infectious and postinfectious mechanisms tied to it. The pathogen might find its way towards the nervous system through the olfactory bulb which is its only part without dural protection, therefore, triggering a direct infection or it could induce the neurological pathology by indirect mechanisms such as hypoxia, metabolic derangements or immunological mimicry. Even though patients with this type of pathology are scarce, their state might become dire in a short time due to the cumulative effects of infection, pre-existing condition and nervous system disorders. Even though the Coronavirus issue is a recent one, medical science has been studying it thoroughly. We have researched a part of the literature regarding this topic, and we have concluded that the neurological disorders associated with this infection. Articles released after the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic that analyze this pathogen's effects regarding the nervous system were taken into consideration.