Ongoing Dizziness Following Acute COVID-19 Infection: A Single Center Pediatric Case Series

BACKGROUND: Dizziness is a common concern discussed at adolescent medical visits. In this series, we describe 9 pediatric patients with postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who presented with persistent, debilitating dizziness for weeks to months after their acute infection. METHODS: Among the 9 patients, median age was 14 years (range: 11 to 17), 6 were female, and 8 had not received any SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Five patients met diagnostic criteria for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) by active standing testing and benefited from a combination of nonpharmacologic therapy (NPT) and medication. RESULTS: NPT alone did not improve symptoms in any patients. Patients who did not meet conventional criteria for POTS, but continued to have symptoms despite NPT compliance, also demonstrated subjective improvement in dizziness when medications were initiated. The majority of patients experienced improvement in dizziness and quality of life, including returning to sports teams and a regular school schedule. CONCLUSIONS: A review of the postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 literature demonstrates increasing recognition of a subset of patients who develop autonomic dysfunction, including POTS, although the etiology and prognosis are not completely understood. Our case series aims to highlight the phenomenon of dysautonomia after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and its response to therapy.

Automated summary

This study describes 9 pediatric patients who experienced persistent and severe dizziness for weeks to months after their acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Some of these patients met the diagnostic criteria for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and experienced improvement with a combination of nonpharmacologic therapy and medication.