A Case Report of Late-Onset Neonatal Meningitis Caused by SARS-CoV-2

Central nervous system involvement by SARS-CoV-19 appears to be very rare in neonates. We report a case of viral meningitis in a neonate admitted to Kerman Afzalipour Hospital in Southeastern Iran.

The patient was a 15-day-old neonate who presented with lethargy, fever, and poor feeding the day before admission. After the initial evaluation and experimental treatment, viral meningitis was diagnosed with SARS- CoV-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of cerebrospinal fluid. Empirical treatment was done with antibiotics and supportive care. After viral meningitis was confirmed, the antibiotics were discontinued. In a follow-up two weeks later, the neonate had a good condition with no particular problem.

This report is a case of SARS-CoV-2 meningitis in a neonate. Therefore, if there is epidemiological evidence, the central nervous system involvement due to this virus should also be considered in neonates.