At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it appeared that children were somehow less susceptible to becoming infected and, if they did get sick, had some unexplained level of protection against becoming severely ill. Like many “facts” about the virus, however, our understanding has changed since then.
While it still appears that children are getting sick at lower rates than adults, we now know COVID-19 can have dire consequences for younger patients. In fact, one particular effect has become known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). And, while it’s not as widespread as COVID-19 is in the general population, it’s deadly. The original article on page 11
of this issue provides some excellent tips specifically for urgent care providers, and offers insights gleaned from two real-world cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been quick to issue updates on the evolving body of knowledge about MIS-C. For example, a study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report noted that four or more organ systems were involved in 86% of cases of MIS-C. Check out the graphs below to see what that study had to say about the most common symptoms and severe complications in 570 children diagnosed with MIS-C.
