According to the findings of a recent survey released by the Health Ministry, more than 10% of Japanese children who acquired acute brain syndrome after contracting COVID-19 have passed away. The national survey was conducted between January 2020 and May 2022. As per the report, 34 cases of acute encephalopathy were linked to COVID-19 infection in individuals under the age of 18.

In the survey, the team looked at 31 patients who had no underlying conditions that could have contributed to the brain damage. Out of these children, 19 children made a full recovery; several problems were identified in the rest of the children. Four of the children did not show any signs of recovery, whereas eight of the children recovered but showed signs of brain damage.

According to the study, the primary early symptoms were changed speech or behavior, reduced consciousness, and seizures, which were reported by half of the patients included in the study. Most young people developed acute encephalopathy when the Omicron coronavirus strain became widespread in January 2022 or later.

However, there was no discernible change in the proportion of children with COVID infection who displayed brain symptoms before and after 2022, indicating that Omicron may not necessarily be increasing the likelihood that the brain disease will develop. 

(Source: https://www.canindia.com/over-10-of-japanese-children-with-covid-related-brain-disease-pass-away-survey/ )