Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41039280›Full record

ArticleBMC neurology2025

Exploring Alice in Wonderland syndrome in adults with persistent headache after COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Latin America.

Fhabián S Carrión-Nessi, Luis C Ascanio, Óscar D Omaña-Ávila, Oriana A Regalado-Gutiérrez, Daniela L Mendoza-Millán, Natasha A Camejo-Ávila, David A Forero-Peña, Alberto E Paniz-Mondolfi

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Article in BMC neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Fhabián S Carrión-NessiBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
Luis C AscanioDepartment of Pathology, Molecular and Cell-Based Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA.
Óscar D Omaña-ÁvilaBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
Oriana A Regalado-GutiérrezBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
Daniela L Mendoza-MillánBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
Natasha A Camejo-ÁvilaBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela.
David A Forero-PeñaBiomedical Research and Therapeutic Vaccines Institute, Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. vacter.cv@gmail.com.
Alberto E Paniz-MondolfiDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Barquisimeto, Venezuela. alberto.paniz-mondolfi@mountsinai.org.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by sensory perception distortions, including altered body image perception and distortions of shape, size, motion, color, and speed. Migraine and infectious diseases are among the most common etiologies of AIWS. However, it has not been studied in individuals with persistent headache after COVID-19.

methodsThis cross-sectional study included a subset of individuals with AIWS symptoms derived from a survey conducted in Latin America to identify adults with persistent headache after COVID-19. For data analysis, AIWS individuals were characterized by sex and analyzed using univariable tests. Subsequently, the entire study cohort was stratified into two groups: the AIWS group and the non-AIWS group. Binomial logistic regression using the backward stepwise selection method was performed to identify the factors associated with AIWS after COVID-19.

resultsOut of 421 participants with persistent headache after COVID-19, 106 (25.2%) reported at least one AIWS symptom. The AIWS group was significantly younger (median age 36 vs. 39 years, p = 0.011) and had a higher proportion of pre-existing migraine (40.6% vs. 29.5%, p = 0.035) compared to the non-AIWS group. The most common post-COVID-19 AIWS symptoms were time distortion (32.1%), derealization/depersonalization (24.5%), and hyperchromatopsia (20.8%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that experiencing any AIWS symptom during acute COVID-19 was the strongest predictor for post-acute AIWS (OR = 9.937, 95% CI = 5.603-17.62, p <0.001). Other significant predictors included phonophobia (OR = 2.322, 95% CI = 1.288-4.185, p = 0.005) and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.937, 95% CI = 1.099-3.413, p = 0.022) during acute COVID-19.

conclusionIn this cohort, AIWS was a notable feature in adults with persistent headache after COVID-19, particularly in younger individuals with a history of migraine. Experiencing AIWS symptoms during acute infection increased the odds of post-acute AIWS symptoms nearly tenfold, suggesting SARS-CoV-2 may be a potent trigger. Clinicians should be aware of this association and screen for perceptual disturbances in patients with post-COVID-19 neurological sequelae.

Indexed as

Alice in Wonderland SyndromeCOVID-19HeadacheAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansLatin AmericaMaleMiddle AgedSARS-CoV-2Young AdultAlice in Wonderland SyndromeCOVID-19Cross-Sectional SurveyLatin AmericaPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromePrimary Headache DisordersSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID41039280
PMCPMC12492887

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.