“New-onset psychiatric symptoms directly related to SARS-CoV-2 virus infection are not rare phenomena among pediatric patients. CSF tests support the presence of central immune responses in some patients.
Our patients developed psychiatric symptoms within 2 weeks of virus infection. In a small portion of patients (2/10, 20%), positive findings in CSF (cerebro-spinal fluid) suggest intracranial immune response and disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB).. EEG showed epileptic wave in one child (1/9, 11%) and slow background rhythm or slow wave activities in five children (5/9, 55%).. [Among six children whose cytokine levels in CSF were measured,] one-third (2/6, 33.3%) had increased IL-8 levels, which indicates IL-8 in the central nervous system may be involved in the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 virus-induced psychiatric symptoms. Increased IL-8 levels in CSF have been reported in brain infection and head injury.. We also detected elevated IgG level, albumin quotient, and positive oligoclonal band in the CSF in another two children, which supports the disrupted blood–brain barrier and central autoimmune reaction theory."
