A tragic case in China has uncovered an unusual and lethal neurological complication of COVID-19 in kids. An eight-year-old girl sadly passed away after the virus infected her brain, leading to a condition called acute necrotising encephalopathy (ANE). The terrifying account is a stark reminder that the virus can have unpredictable and serious effects, even outside of respiratory issues.
COVID-19: Rare but Fatal Outcome
The girl first presented with typical symptoms, including fever, headaches, vomiting, and a rough rash on the arms, legs, and trunk. Despite all these symptoms, the doctors did not instantly test her for COVID-19 due to a lack of a recognizable trigger. Her health quickly deteriorated with repeated seizures and bad neurological regression. She started “frothing at the mouth,” and her limbs became stiff and shook. Doctors eventually intubated her to support breathing, but nine days after her initial symptoms manifested, she was pronounced brain dead, and life support was discontinued.
Medical examinations at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre affirmed ANE, a condition of the brain which is not common and suspected to have been caused by infection with COVID-19. The physicians also found rotavirus in her blood and stool; however, they declared COVID-19 as a more probable cause of her neurological complications. The physicians explained in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases, “Despite aggressive therapy, the patient remained in profound coma without sedation.”
Understanding Acute Necrotising Encephalopathy
ANE is a consequence of an exaggerated immune response to a viral infection such as COVID-19 or influenza. Excessive inflammation caused by the body destroys tissues throughout, including those of the brain. Toxins and bacteria then penetrate the brain, destroying cells and producing swelling. Although extremely uncommon, with fewer than a hundred recorded instances, ANE’s quick development kills it. Physicians at the Guangzhou Medical Center point out that they are continuing to study how to most effectively treat children suffering from this accelerated neurological deterioration brought about by COVID-19.
A Warning for Vigilance
This heart-wrenching case highlights the imperative of raising awareness regarding the rare but intense neurological effects of COVID-19 among children. As the virus begins to surge again around the world, medical professionals have to be watchful for the onset of neurological stress in children at the earliest. Early diagnosis and intervention could prove lifesaving in such a situation
