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Guido CA, Lucidi F, Midulla F, Zicari AM, Bove E, Avenoso F, Amedeo I, Mancino E, Nenna R, De Castro G, Capponi M, Cinicola BL, Brindisi G, Grisoni F, Murciano M, Spalice A. Neurological and psychological effects of long COVID in a young population: A cross-sectional study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:925144. [PMID: 36062008 PMCID: PMC9428748 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.925144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim We evaluated the long-term clinical status of pediatric patients after testing positive for COVID-19. We hypothesized that there are similar symptoms to those that have been described in adults and children and that pediatric patients with neurophysiologic symptoms still present 3–5 months after infection have psychological consequences that interfere with their adaptive functioning. Method We recruited 322 COVID-19-positive pediatric patients, between 1.5 and 17 years old, from the outpatient clinic for COVID-19 follow-up. Neurological symptoms were analyzed at onset, after 1 month, and after 3–5 months. A psychological assessment with standardized questionnaires was also conducted to determine the impact of the disease. Results At the onset of COVID-19, 60% of the total sample exhibited symptoms; this decreased after 1 month (20%) but stabilized 3–5 months after disease onset (22%). Prevailing long-COVID neurological symptoms were headache, fatigue, and anosmia. In the 1.5–5-year-old subgroup, internalizing problems emerged in 12% of patients. In the 6–18-year-old subgroup, anxiety and post-traumatic stress showed significant associations with neurological symptoms of long COVID. Conclusions These data demonstrate that long COVID presents various broad-spectrum symptoms, including psychological and long-lasting cognitive issues. If not treated, these symptoms could significantly compromise the quality of life of children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Alessia Guido
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Lucidi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Midulla
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Zicari
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Bove
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Avenoso
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Amedeo
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Enrica Mancino
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Nenna
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna De Castro
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Martina Capponi
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Brindisi
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Grisoni
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Murciano
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Spalice
- Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Alberto Spalice
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Perilli L, Mastromoro G, Murciano M, Amedeo I, Avenoso F, Pizzuti A, Guido CA, Spalice A. Myoclonic Epilepsy: Case Report of a Mild Phenotype in a Pediatric Patient Expanding Clinical Spectrum of KCNA2 Pathogenic Variants. Front Neurol 2022; 12:806516. [PMID: 35178022 PMCID: PMC8844549 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.806516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on the rare case of a male toddler presenting with myoclonic epilepsy characterized by daily episodes of upward movements of the eyebrows, and myoclonic jerks of both head and upper limbs. In addition, the child showed speech delay, tremors, and lack of motor coordination. Next Generation Sequencing analysis (NGS) performed in trio revealed in the proband the c.889C>T de novo missense variant in the KCNA2 gene in heterozygous state. This is the first case of myoclonic epilepsy in a toddler due to a c.889C>T KCNA2 missense variant. The patient was treated with valproic acid and ethosuximide with a good clinical response. At 6 years old, follow-up revealed that the proband was seizure-free with tremors and clumsiness in movements. According to the literature, this case supports the correlation between myoclonic epilepsy and KCNA2 alterations. This evidence suggests that performing genomic testing including the KCNA2 gene in preschool patients affected by myoclonic epilepsy, especially when associated with delayed neurodevelopment. Our goal is to expand the phenotypical spectrum of this rare condition and adding clinical features following a genotype-first approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Perilli
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gioia Mastromoro
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuel Murciano
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Department of Emergency Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Amedeo
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Avenoso
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Pizzuti
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Alessia Guido
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Spalice
- Department of Mother and Child and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Guido CA, Amedeo I, Avenoso F, Bruni J, Zicari AM, Loffredo L, Spalice A. Risk Factors and Mental Health Promotion Strategies in Children During COVID-19. Front Public Health 2020; 8:580720. [PMID: 33178664 PMCID: PMC7593512 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.580720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Alessia Guido
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Amedeo
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Avenoso
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Jacopo Bruni
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Zicari
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Loffredo
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Spalice
- Paediatric Neurology Division, Department of Maternal Sciences, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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