You may have seen news of a new inflammatory disorder in children, related to COVID-19 infection. This new entity is called Multisystem Inflammatory Disorder in Children (MIS-C for short). The condition is still rare when looking at the entire pediatric population; however, we want to keep you aware of what to look for with this syndrome. We are still learning more about COVID-19 every day so this blog post is based on what current information we have.
Criteria for diagnosis includes:
- Less than 21 years of age (Age range of most cases is 1-17 with a median age of 11)
- Fever
- Laboratory evidence of inflammation
- Severe illness requiring hospitalization
- Greater than 2 organ systems involved (Cardiac, renal, respiratory, hematologic, gastrointestinal, dermatological, or neurological)
- Current or recent Sars-Cov 2 infection: diagnosed by positive PCR nasal swab, positive antibody test, or documented interaction with a COVID-19 positive patient within the last 4 weeks.
What the syndrome looks like:
- Fever (greater than 100.4 F) for over 24 hours
- Abdominal pain with vomiting or diarrhea
- Rash
- Possible respiratory symptoms
- Altered mental status – child seeming confused or overly sleepy
What to do if you are concerned:
- Call your pediatrician immediately to discuss
- Your pediatrician can determine if your child needs to be seen in the office or the ER
What to expect if you are sent to the ER for evaluation:
- IV fluids
- Labwork to look for signs of MIS-C, recent COVID-19 infection, and other illnesses that can present in a similar way
- Chest X-Ray if indicated
- ECG and Echo if indicated
Always feel comfortable calling our office with any concerns or questions 513-984-5552. We are here to help!
Author
Alison Heffernan, MD
Board Certified Pediatrician and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics
