Nisha Pandey

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Flu & COVID-19 Linked To 90% Of Cases Of Rare, Life-Threatening Brain Disease In Children: Study

Influenza and COVID-19 may trigger a rare but fatal brain condition in children, according to a new study published in <em><span rel="noindex">Frontiers in Neurology</span></em>. 

Based on 138 reported cases of <span>acute necrotizing encephalopathy</span> (<span>ANE</span>), the research is built on 15 studies involving children under 18 diagnosed with ANE following respiratory viral infections. 

ANE can cause rapid neurological deterioration, seizures and damage to deep structures of the brain, even in children who were previously healthy.

Influenza viruses accounted for 46% of the reported cases, while SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, accounted for 42.3%. Together, they represented nearly 90% of the cases in the review.

The findings highlight the need to recognise neurological symptoms that develop after a child has a fever or respiratory infection. 

However, <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/nutrition/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-silent-brain-damage-in-canadian-study-what-researchers-found-article-156349920" data-type="tilCustomLink">ANE</a> remains rare, and the study does not suggest that most children with <span>flu</span> or COVID-19 are at risk of developing the condition.

<h2>Flu And COVID-19 Accounted For Most Reported Cases</h2>

Influenza viruses were identified in 63 cases, while SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 58. Another 17 cases were linked to unspecified respiratory viral infections. 

The findings suggest that influenza and COVID-19 are key reported triggers of ANE. However, the researchers cautioned  that the studies were observations, and the findings cannot establish how often ANE develops among children infected with either virus.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/swimmer-archie-goodburns-plea-prompts-uk-action-to-speed-up-brain-cancer-treatment-article-156346903" data-type="tilCustomLink">Swimmer Archie Goodburn’s Plea Prompts UK Brain Cancer Research Review</a>

<h2>What Is Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy?</h2>

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/migraine-is-more-than-a-headache-lancet-review-explains-what-happens-in-the-brain-during-attacks-article-156322786" data-type="tilCustomLink">Acute necrotizing encephalopathy</a> is a rare neurological disorder in which inflammation and tissue injury cause damage to the brain. It is mostly linked with a respiratory viral infection.

The condition is characterised by lesions in the thalami, two structures deep inside the brain that help process sensory information and regulate functions like alertness. 

In some children, damage also affects the brainstem and other regions. Rather than the virus directly destroying brain tissue, an excessive inflammatory response may disrupt the blood-brain barrier, allowing inflammation to damage the brain.

<h2>Symptoms of Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy</h2>

ANE usually starts with symptoms of the initial viral infection, like fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by rapid neurological decline, which may include:

<ul><li><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/cladophialophora-bantiana-us-cdc-flags-surge-in-deadly-brain-fungus-cases-article-156286674" data-type="tilCustomLink">Seizures</a></li><li>Confusion, drowsiness, and altered consciousness</li><li>Coma lasting for weeks</li><li>Problems with movement (ataxia)</li><li>Abnormal muscle tone</li></ul>

One of the most concerning features of ANE is how quickly a child's condition can worsen after a febrile illness.

In the reviewed cases, fever was reported in 93.4% of children, altered consciousness in 94.9% and seizures in 68.6%. These figures describe children who had ANE, not all children with respiratory infections.

These symptoms require emergency medical assessment. Parents should not wait for a fever or other infection symptoms to resolve if a child develops seizures, confusion or reduced consciousness.

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Despite treatment, the outcomes reported in the study were serious. Of the 138 children included in the review, 54 died, giving a reported mortality proportion of 39.1%. 

Survivors also experienced neurological complications, including problems affecting movement, cognition and development. 

It is important to note that the study included published cases of a rare and severe disease, which may overrepresent children with particularly serious illness. It is not a population-wide estimate of the risk of death from ANE. Brain imaging like MRI can help doctors identify the characteristic lesions associated with the condition. 

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Influenza and COVID-19 may trigger a rare but fatal brain condition in children, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Neurology. Based on 138 reported cases of acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE), the research is built on 15 studies involving children under 18 diagnosed with ANE following respiratory viral infections. ANE can cause rapid neurological deterioration, seizures and damage to deep structures of the brain, even in children who were previously healthy.Influenza viruses accounted for 46% of the reported cases, while SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, accounted for 42.3%. Together, they represented nearly 90% of the cases in the review.The findings highlight the need to recognise neurological symptoms that develop after a child has a fever or respiratory infection. However, ANE remains rare, and the study does not suggest that most children with flu or COVID-19 are at risk of developing the condition.Flu And COVID-19 Accounted For Most Reported CasesInfluenza viruses were identified in 63 cases, while SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 58. Another 17 cases were linked to unspecified respiratory viral infections. The findings suggest that influenza and COVID-19 are key reported triggers of ANE. However, the researchers cautioned  that the studies were observations, and the findings cannot establish how often ANE develops among children infected with either virus.Also read: Swimmer Archie Goodburn’s Plea Prompts UK Brain Cancer Research ReviewWhat Is Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy?Acute necrotizing encephalopathy is a rare neurological disorder in which inflammation and tissue injury cause damage to the brain. It is mostly linked with a respiratory viral infection.The condition is characterised by lesions in the thalami, two structures deep inside the brain that help process sensory information and regulate functions like alertness. In some children, damage also affects the brainstem and other regions. Rather than the virus directly destroying brain tissue, an excessive inflammatory response may disrupt the blood-brain barrier, allowing inflammation to damage the brain.Symptoms of Acute Necrotizing EncephalopathyANE usually starts with symptoms of the initial viral infection, like fever, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by rapid neurological decline, which may include:SeizuresConfusion, drowsiness, and altered consciousnessComa lasting for weeksProblems with movement (ataxia)Abnormal muscle toneOne of the most concerning features of ANE is how quickly a child's condition can worsen after a febrile illness.In the reviewed cases, fever was reported in 93.4% of children, altered consciousness in 94.9% and seizures in 68.6%. These figures describe children who had ANE, not all children with respiratory infections.These symptoms require emergency medical assessment. Parents should not wait for a fever or other infection symptoms to resolve if a child develops seizures, confusion or reduced consciousness.   Mortality Rate Of ANEDespite treatment, the outcomes reported in the study were serious. Of the 138 children included in the review, 54 died, giving a reported mortality proportion of 39.1%. Survivors also experienced neurological complications, including problems affecting movement, cognition and development. It is important to note that the study included published cases of a rare and severe disease, which may overrepresent children with particularly serious illness. It is not a population-wide estimate of the risk of death from ANE. Brain imaging like MRI can help doctors identify the characteristic lesions associated with the condition. 

flu & covid-19 linked to 90% of cases of rare, life-threatening brain disease in children: study

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