‎Experts warn of rare deadly COVID side effect after 8-year-old girl dies from brain infection

‎Medical professionals are raising alarms after a rare but deadly complication linked to COVID-19 tragically claimed the life of an 8-year-old girl in China. The young patient, who initially showed no clear COVID symptoms, developed acute necrotising encephalopathy (ANE)—a rare neurological disorder—just days after unknowingly contracting the virus.

‎

‎Experts warn of a rare, fatal COVID brain complication in kids after an 8-year-old girl dies from acute necrotising encephalopathy.

‎CDC

‎

‎According to a detailed case report published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases, the child presented with a mild fever, vomiting, and a rash, symptoms that initially failed to trigger a COVID-19 test. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, she began suffering seizures that left her foaming at the mouth and with stiff, shaking limbs—hallmarks of a tonic-clonic seizure.

‎

‎Doctors at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Centre later confirmed the presence of COVID-19 in her saliva. She was also found to have rotavirus, though the medical team identified COVID-19 as the more likely cause of the neurological damage. Despite aggressive medical intervention—including intubation, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and sedation—the girl's condition worsened. Within nine days, she was declared brain dead.

‎

‎What Is Acute Necrotising Encephalopathy (ANE)?

‎

‎ANE is an extremely rare condition, triggered when the immune system overreacts to a viral infection such as COVID-19 or influenza. The overreaction causes widespread inflammation and brain tissue death. With fewer than a few hundred cases reported globally, ANE often leads to coma, permanent neurological damage, or death.

‎

‎This case adds to a growing body of evidence that COVID-19, while typically respiratory in nature, can cause severe neurological complications in children. Researchers emphasized the urgent need for early detection and heightened awareness among clinicians.

‎

‎"Although COVID typically presents with respiratory symptoms, it can also lead to severe neurological manifestations in children," the report noted. "This case highlights the need for early recognition of rapid neurological deterioration post-infection."

‎

‎Implications for Global Health Policy

‎

‎In the UK and many parts of the world, COVID-19 monitoring has significantly declined. With most adults having experienced infection at least once and vaccine rollouts widely completed, governments have largely shifted focus away from emergency pandemic measures. However, this case serves as a stark reminder that the virus still poses significant risks, particularly in pediatric populations.

‎

‎Experts are now calling for updated guidelines and improved clinical protocols for identifying and managing rare complications like ANE in pediatric COVID-19 cases.

‎

‎Public Health Takeaway

‎

‎While severe neurological outcomes in children due to COVID-19 remain rare, this case underscores the need for vigilance, rapid testing, and informed clinical response. Parents and health professionals alike are urged to monitor unusual symptoms—especially those involving fever and seizures—with increased scrutiny.