Abstract
Abstract: Introduction: The COVID-19 disease emerged in Wuhan province
of China in November 2019 and spread across the world in a short time,
resulting in a pandemic. The first case in Turkey was detected on March
11, 2020. The aim of the current study was to reveal the effects of
COVID-19 on cranial nerves by monitoring people infected with the
disease based on repeated examinations and surveys. Material and Method:
The data of 356 patients with a positive COVID-19 polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) test who received treatment between June 2020 and August
2020 in our hospital were prospectively evaluated after the study was
approved by the relevant ethics committee. Results: Of the 356 patients
included in the study, 47 under the age of 18 years were excluded due to
their unreliable examination and anamnesis findings. In addition, seven
patients that died while in hospital were excluded from the study due to
the lack of examination and survey records during their hospitalization.
The data of the remaining 302 patients were statistically analyzed.
Symptoms of cranial nerve involvement were observed in 135 patients.
Conclusion: The COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus commonly
results in cranial nerve symptoms. The fact that these findings are more
common and severe in COVID-19 than previous SARS and MERS outbreaks
suggests that it has a more neurotrophic and more aggressive
neuroinvasion. While the negative effects of the virus on sensory
functions resulting from cranial nerve involvement are evident, motor
functions are rarely affected.