COVID-19 Information for Clinicians

Image of hands of doctor and patient at desk. Links to: Information for clinicians regarding COVID-19 and epilepsy

It has become apparent that we are learning about the possible impact of COVID19; either on neurological status in previously normal individuals, or the impact on our patients with epilepsy.

Report cases
If you have cared for a patient who has experienced an exacerbation of seizures, developed new onset seizures, or experienced another neurological change, please add the case information to our dataset.

Tele-Health questionnaire
The ILAE COVID-19 Task Force is seeking input from all regions of the world about the use of telemedicine in clinical epilepsy, particularly in the light of the COVID19 pandemic. Are you using it? Why or why not? What are the problems you encounter with technology, costs, and level of care? Share your experience here.

Other clinician resources

For clinicians involved in the care of patients with epilepsy with COVID-19

Keeping people with epilepsy safe during the Covid-19 pandemic French et al. Neurology. April 2020

Useful COVID-19 references

FAQs for clinicians

FAQs for Clinicians This survey is available translated into multiple languages.

Flags of countries representing the languages in which the FAQs are available

For epileptologists

Telemedicine in patients with epilepsy: What to ask for?

Video-EEG Telemetry for Epilepsy Surgery during COVID-19 Restrictions (ILAE Surgical Therapies Commission, August 2020)

Telemedicine for Epilepsy Care in the COVID-19 Era: key points to address + links to resources

COVID-19: Organization challenges with remote work in Epilepsy
Survey to assess both physician and patient satisfaction with telemedicine and organizational practices, and to determine in which situations telemedicine will have a more permanent role in our practice in the future.

Epilepsy Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic (YouTube)
Saudi Epilepsy Society Webinar, in English, recorded 4 April 2020
• J. Helen Cross: Epilepsy in the COVID-19 pandemic (overview) - starts at 7:50
• Emilio Perucca: Facing the COVID-19 crisis in an epilepsy center in Italy - starts at 29:00
• Haifa Alabri: Anti-epileptic drug interactions with drugs used for COVID-19 - starts at 44:26
• Zeyad Althani: Practical guide on ICU EEG monitoring for status epilepticus - starts at 57:37
• Question and answer period - starts at 1:14:20

Guidance on EEG investigations (American Clinical Neurophysiology Society)

Neuropsychological Assessments for Epilepsy Surgery during COVID-19 Restrictions

Optimizing Status Epilepticus care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Michael O. Kinney, Francesco Brigo, Peter W. Kaplan. Epilepsy & Behavior
[Also in Georgian: ეპილეფსიური სტატუსის მართვის ოპტიმიზაცია COVID-19 პანდემიის პირობებშიc]

Information in different languages

For clinicians involved in the care of patients with epilepsy with COVID-19

Using nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients with epilepsy: An update from the Israeli chapter of the International League Against Epilepsy
Noyman I, Ekstein D, Fahoum F, Herskovitz M, Linder I, Ben Zeev B, Eyal S. Epilepsia (May 2022). doi:10.1111/epi.17212

Clinically Relevant Interactions Between Ritonavir‑Boosted  Nirmatrelvir and Concomitant Antiseizure Medications: Implications for the Management of COVID‑19 in Patients with Epilepsy
Wanounou M, Caraco Y, Levy RH, Bialer M, Perucca E. Clin Pharmacokinet (2022). doi:10.1007/s40262-022-01152-z

Antiseizure medication interactions with PaxlovidTM, used in oral treatment of COVID-19
Cokley JA, Gidal BE, Keller JA, Vossler DG. PaxlovidTM Information From U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and Guidance for AES Members. Epilepsy Currents. April 2022. doi:10.1177/15357597221088415

Using a strengths based approach to manage fear and anxiety among people with epilepsy and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic A report from the ILAE Social Work Task Force

Educating Patients and Families in COVID-19 Era: Needs, Gaps and the Role of Nurses.
A Report prepared by the Nursing Task Force of the ILAE

Saudi Epilepsy Society Consensus on Epilepsy Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic Neurosciences 2020; Vol 25(3). doi: 10.17712/nsj.2020.3.20200066

COVID-19 Guidance for Clinicians from the ILAE Psychiatric Commission

COVID-19 and World Neurology (WFN):
Covid-19 resources, references, Global Neurology Alliance, more

Guidance for clinical neurophysiology examination throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Latin American chapter of the IFCN task force. Daniel San-Juan et al. Clinical Neurology, V.131 (7).

Webinar recording on drug interactions - EpiCARE
Webinar topics:

  • Emilio Perucca – Neurological manifestations of COVID-19 and special concerns for people with epilepsy – starts at 1:40
  • Emilio Perucca - Drug interaction information – starts at 14:45
  • Cecelie Johannessen Landmark - Mechanisms of drug interactions – starts at 33:00
  • Eugen Trinka – 49:38 – Status epilepticus during COVID-19 pandemic – starts at 49:38
  • Q&A – starts at 1:19:49

Seizures in COVID-19

Treatment of patients with nonsevere and severe coronavirus disease 2019: an evidence-based guideline
Zhikang Ye et al, CMAJ.

Information from WHO on immunity passports

(rev. 6/29/2020)

COVID-19 Task Force Reports

Epilepsy care during the COVID-19 pandemic (Epilepsia, 2021)

The initial impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on epilepsy research (Epilepsia Open, 2021)

Other ILAE Reports

Barriers to telemedicine among physicians in epilepsy care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A national-level cross-sectional survey in Japan (Epilepsy & Behavior, 2021)

Importance of access to epilepsy monitoring units during the COVID-19 pandemic: Consensus statement of the International League against epilepsy and the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology (Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021)