As if parents don’t have enough to worry about. What’s 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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