COVID-19 can cause Parkinson’s syndrome: Dr Francisco Cardoso
   Date :25-Oct-2020

Dr Cr Meshram nd_1 &
 Dr Cr Meshram        Dr Christina Marra     Dr Francisco Cardoso
 
 
Principal Correspondent :
 
Post-encephalitis Parrkinsonism following Spanish flu epidemic in 1916 was first described by Dr Von Economo from Austria. COVID 19 can present with various neurological manifestations. Some patients may have Parkinson’s disease like manifestations and myoclonus and it is important to recognize these features, explained President (elect) of International Movement Disorder Society Dr Francisco Cardoso, from Brazil.
 
He was giving a talk on “Movement disorders in infections” during the third session of WFN Neuro infection series organized by Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group of World Federation of Neurology in collaboration with Indian Academy of Neurology and Forum for Indian Neurology Education. The session was chaired by Dr Kailash Bhatia, UK and Dr Ricardo Nitrini, Brazil. The session was organised by Pan American Federation of Neurological Societies and its President Dr Marco Medina was the moderator. Dr Raad Shakir, Dr Joseph Berger and Dr Steve Lewis were invited panelists. Elaborating further Dr Cardoso stated, “Different parasites, bacteria and viruses affect the brain and cause movement disorders. 10% to 15% population of Latin America has cysticercosis infection.
 
Sydenham’s chorea also known as Rheumatic chorea is most common cause of chorea in children worldwide and is caused by streptococcal infection. It also affects the heart. Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and malaria are transmitted by mosquitoes and are endemic in many countries in the world. These infections cause various movement disorders like chorea, hemiballism, dystonia, ataxia, tremors, myoclonus and akinetic rigid syndrome, mentioned Dr Cardoso. Dr Christina Marra, Professor of Neurology and infectious diseases, University of Washington, USA gave a talk on Neurosyphilis during this session. According to her, neurosyphilis can present with meningitis, stroke, dementia- classically known as general paralysis of insane and spinal cord disorders-tabes dorsalis.
 
This sexually transmitted disease is caused by bacteria Treponema Pallidum, added Dr Marra. “Ocular syphilis and syphilis of ears are other important manifestations. Diagnosis is achieved by examination of cerebrospinal fluid and MRI studies. Some patients have asymptomatic infection. The incidence of neurosyphilis is decreasing but since it is a treatable disease, the diagnosis should not be missed,” Dr Marra commented. Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, President of Tropical Neurology Group of World Federation of Neurology and course director of the series commented, “Many patients, mainly children develop movement disorders as a sequelae of Japanese encephalitis, Herpes encephalitis and dengue.
 
These infections are preventable and need efforts by individuals, society, Government and non Government organisations for prevention. We will have to wait and see whether patients infected with COVID 19 will develop neurological sequelae after few years.” Dr Oscar Del Brutto from Ecuador presented a case of multiple abscesses in Brain and Dr Larissa Silva Teixeira from Brazil presented a case of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis.