COVID-19 RELATED HEADACHE AND ITS CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

HEADACHE IN COVID-19

Abstract

Objectives: Headache is one of the most common neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients. This study examined the prevalence of headache and its clinical properties in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia patients from a neurology inpatient ward. Data for COVID-19-positive patients aged between 17 and 88 years were analyzed, considering the results of reverse polymerase chain reaction (Rpcr) for SARS COV-2. Headache prevalence and characteristics and routine laboratory examinations were investigated.

Results: The study analyzed 209 consecutive COVID-19 patients. Of these, 142 (67.9%) patients suffered headaches during COVID-19 infection and 107/209 (51.2%) patients reported a new type of headache. Of the 209 patients, 101 (48.3%) also described decreases in smell and taste during the headache. The most common headache location was fronto-orbital, in 52/142 (40.6%) patients. Most patients had a bilateral headache (90.8%).

Conclusion: As our knowledge of COVID-19 accumulates, we find that COVID-19 headache is not a random symptom. A new or different kind of throbbing headache that is bilateral and fronto-orbital might be related to COVID-19 disease.