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Cranial polyneuropathy as the first manifestation of a severe COVID-19 in a child
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  • Aphaia Roussel,
  • David Germanaud,
  • Yassine Bouchoucha,
  • Naim Ouldali,
  • Meryl Vedrenne-Cloquet,
  • Martin Castelle,
  • Andre Baruchel
Aphaia Roussel
Robert-Debré Mother-Child University Hospital

Corresponding Author:aphaia.roussel@aphp.fr

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David Germanaud
Robert-Debré Mother-Child University Hospital
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Yassine Bouchoucha
Robert-Debré Mother-Child University Hospital
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Naim Ouldali
Robert-Debré Mother-Child University Hospital
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Meryl Vedrenne-Cloquet
Necker-Enfants Malades Hospitals
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Martin Castelle
Necker-Enfants Malades Hospitals
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Andre Baruchel
Robert-Debré Hospital
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Abstract

We report a rare acute neurological complication associated with COVID-19 in a 6-year-old girl with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for sickle cell anemia. 21 days after transplant she presented an acute facial diplegia, followed by a swallowing and left sensitive involvement, associated with an MRI T2 hypersignal and gadolinium enhancement of facial and hypoglossal nerves. Fever and severe respiratory symptoms appeared secondarily leading to the diagnosis of COVID-19. This cranial polyneuropathy in a child was inaugural, questioning the typical post-infectious mechanism. Physicians should consider SARS-CoV-2 in patients with cranial nerve abnormalities even without respiratory manifestations or fever.