Neurological Manifestations of COVID-19 Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Objective: This observational cohort study aims to provide data on pediatric patients with neurological manifestations associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Methods: Patients aged <18 with neurologic symptoms and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection from January, 2021 to January, 2022 at the Dr. Sardjito Hospital in Yogyakarta, Indonesia were evaluated. We used WHO diagnostic criteria to classify patients as MIS-C or non-MIS-C. Demographic information, symptoms, and outcomes were compared between MIS-C and non-MIS-C groups. Results: Between January, 2021 and January, 2022, 74 pediatric patients were considered eligible. More than half of the patients were female (54.1), and 24.3 presented with MIS-C. Length of hospitalization was significantly longer in MIS-C individuals (P=0.006). The commonest neurological findings were involuntary movements (43.2) and paresis (27). The commonest neuroimaging findings were meningoencephalitis (18.9) and hydrocephalus (22.9). Among all the variety of neurologic manifestations in non-MIS-C and MIS-C patients, a statistically significant result was found for fever (71.4 vs 100; P=0.015), altered mental state (14.2 vs 50, P=0.004), and paresis (33.9 vs 5.5, P=0.030). Conclusion: MIS-C was found in 24 of our patients with acute neurologic symptoms, and most cases (51.8) had positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results. © 2023, Indian Academy of Pediatrics.