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Case Reports
. 2021 Nov:71:103028.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.103028. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Aseptic meningoencephalitis after COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

Shwan A Ahmad  1 , Bestoon Kh Salih  1 , Karokh F Hama Hussein  1 , Tomas M Mikael  1   2 , Fahmi H Kakamad  1   3   2 , Abdulwahid M Salih  1   3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Aseptic meningoencephalitis after COVID-19 vaccination: A case report

Shwan A Ahmad et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2021 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction: Several types of vaccine have been shown to significantly reduce the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to report the first case of meningoencephalitis after receiving the second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

Case report: A 62-year-old lady presented with headache, fever and rigor for 4 days. She had acute confessional state and inability to talk. She was conscious, disoriented, not obeying commands. Acyclovir vial IV 750 mg three times a day for 14 days were prescribed. She responded very well.

Discussion: Concern has been raised about the safety of vaccinations. The most common side effects of COVID-19 vaccinations are local responses at the injection site, followed by non-specific systemic symptoms such as headache, tiredness, myalgia, and fever. These may appear shortly after immunization and disappear in a short period of time.

Conclusion: Although extremely rare, aseptic meningoencephalitis could occur after COVID-19 vaccination. The patient could be managed conservatively with a good clinical outcome.

Keywords: Aseptic; COVID-19; Meningoencephalitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

None to be declared.

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