1-Year-Old Baby Suffers Paralysis, Seizures In Rare Post COVID-19 Complication

A 1-year-old baby in India has reportedly suffered from post-COVID complications, which led to multiple episodes of seizures and paralysis on the right side of her body.

The baby, who was treated at a private hospital in the southern state of Karnataka, was diagnosed with hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia-epilepsy syndrome (HHES), a rare complication caused by coronavirus.

Medical experts believe in some cases of COVID-19, children develop MIS-C, a complication that leads to inflammation in different organs. HHES is a very rare manifestation of MIS-C, according to Punekar News. This rare case occurred in the baby, who was rushed to Aster RV Hospital due to persistent right sided seizures of arms and legs, which lasted for nearly 6 hours with fever.

The baby developed the post COVID-19 complication after her parents and other family members tested positive for the virus. The baby had a mild cough and cold, but was not tested for COVID-19.

The child had undergone treatment for a cold at a different hospital, but soon her condition deteriorated. Her family members had recovered three weeks before she was hospitalized.

“We quickly intubated her, put her on a mechanical ventilator and administered 3rd line anti-epileptic drugs. She was in shock and unresponsive. 24 hrs EEG suggested persistent seizure activity on the left side of the brain and we had to control the seizures by inducing medical coma via further medications,” Dr. Sujatha Thyagarajan, Sr. Consultant and Lead, PICU, Aster RV Hospital, said, according to Deccan Herald.

When doctors tested the child for COVID-19, they found she had positive antibodies. An MRI report revealed she was suffering from hemiconvulsion-hemiplegia-epilepsy syndrome, affecting the left side of the brain. The child was treated with medicines such as Intravenous immunoglobulins drip, steroids and Anakinra. The girl had been put on a ventilator, but she quickly responded to treatment.

The child underwent rehabilitation and, in the course of six weeks, made significant improvement.

“MIS-C is the most common post Covid complication among kids and it can manifest in a number of ways. In Vyshnavi’s case, it had turned severe which led to multiple complications," Thyagarajan said.

Vyshnavi’s parents expressed their happiness after the treatment of their child in the rare case.

“It was a difficult situation for us when we saw our child suffering. She could not breathe properly and was having continuous seizures. We were scared looking at her condition. Doctors at the hospital assured us about her safety and we are happy that our daughter is doing well now.," they reportedly said.

Early Tuesday, India reported 14,313 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours. This number is said to be the lowest since early March.