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How concerned should I be about the new virus affecting kids?



Knowing the symptoms of multi-system inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C

virus, pandemic, inflammatory syndrome, kids, COVID


As if parents dont have enough to worry about. Whats the latest about this inflammatory syndrome that is affecting our kids?

Right off the bat, we want to say that most children who were diagnosed with this condition – which is connected with Covid-19  have gotten better with medical care. But what is it?

Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) first appeared in the United Kingdom this past April. The *Kawasaki disease-like symptoms were reported in children who previously had been healthy, according to the CDC. In May, the New York City Department of Health had over 100 children diagnosed with the illness. With that said, Hudson Valley parents should be on guard for certain symptoms which could indicate the onset of MIS-C. 

What we know about MIS-C:

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. It’s not known as yet what causes MIS-C, but what is known is that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone who tested positive. MIS-C can be serious, even deadly, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have gotten better with medical care.

What to do if you think your child is sick with MIS-C?

Contact your child’s doctor, nurse, or clinic right away if your child is showing symptoms of MIS-C:

  • Fever
  • Abdominal pain
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Neck pain
  • Rash
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Feeling extra tired

Be aware that not all children will have all the same symptoms.

Seek emergency care right away if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs of MIS-C or other concerning signs:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
  • New confusion
  • Inability to wake or stay awake
  • Bluish lips or face
  • Severe abdominal pain

Actions your child’s pediatrician may take:

Doctors may request the following tests to look for inflammation or other signs of disease:

  • Blood tests
  • Chest x-ray
  • Heart ultrasound (echocardiogram)
  • Abdominal ultrasound

Children may be treated with medicines to treat the inflammation; some may be able to recover at home, some may need to be treated in a hospital. Not everything is known about MIS-C, says the CDC, including why some children get it, and some not. What is known, however, is that children with certain health conditions are more at risk.

* Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is an acute febrile illness of unknown etiology that primarily affects children younger than 5 years of age. The disease was first described in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, and the first cases outside of Japan were reported in Hawaii in 1976.

Clinical signs include fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat.



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