What is the multisystem inflammatory syndrome that affects children with coronavirus?

Although in general, children are infected by Covid-19 but do not develop major symptoms, they are discovering news that is related to it. We talk about multisystem inflammatory syndrome that affects children when they are infected with coronavirus and who, previously, are healthy.

Apparently there is a relationship between the virus and this syndrome in children, although scientists and pediatricians are still studying its origins, conditions, symptoms and others in order to diagnose and treat this condition.

From the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants to reassure parents and the world population adding that few children are get seriously ill from the virus that causes Covid-19 and the majority of those diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome have recovered after receiving medical care.

What is multisystem inflammatory syndrome?

It is based on an inflammation of certain organs such as the heart, the lungs, the blood vessels, the kidneys, the digestive system, the brain, the skin, or the eyes.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, among symptoms include fever and inflammation in their bodies and they may also suffer from thrombosis (blood clots), poor heart function or kidney damage.

More specifically, children with this problem usually have a high fever of 24 hours or more, inflammation in the body and problems in many of their organs, such as intestines, heart, lungs and kidneys.

No previous antecedents

Although it is being studied, the first indications establish that such problems tend to appear more frequently in the healthy population and in children who do not have a history of a symptomatic respiratory infection and the SARS-CoV-2 test is negative due to a chain reaction of polymerase, but have developed specific IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Although it can be scary, multisystem inflammatory syndrome does not show an increase in mortality.

Diagnosis and treatment

The American Academy of Pediatrics highlights tests to diagnose this disease, such as blood tests, chest X-rays, electrocardiogram to measure electrical activity of the heart, an echocardiogram, ultrasound / ultrasound of the heart.

While medications to treat inflammation and fluids are given. A large proportion of children who become ill with MIS-C will need to be cared for in the hospital. Some will need medical care in the intensive care unit.

Success of a girl with MIS-C treated in the Vall d’Hebron

A 12-year-old girl, criticized for myocarditis caused by Covid-19, was successfully treated in Vall d’Hebron this November. As reported by the Hospital, the minor suffered, as a result of the coronavirus, a very rare syndrome that occurs especially in children of her age, SIM-Ped (pediatric multisystemic inflammatory syndrome).

After being admitted to the Hospital for almost 45 days, seventeen of which being treated in the pediatric ICU, the girl overcame the critical situation and was discharged. With residence in Mallorca, he suffered, as a result of Covid-19, this very rare syndrome that occurs and that can cause failure of various organs and, more seriously, the heart.

“The transfer was complex,” says Dr. Joan Balcells, head of the pediatric ICU of Vall d’Hebron, who led the ECMO team of the Hospital that moved to Mallorca, since the girl was connected to ECMO, a technique complex on which his life depended, and we also had to follow the security measures due to the isolation of COVID-19 throughout the transfer process ”.

The girl went up to the floor that was already stable, with myopathy (a pathology that affects muscle groups) as a consequence of having been a critical patient and of COVID-19. In plant recovered his normal myocardial function and has not had any organ dysfunction. You are now following muscle rehabilitation.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 48 patients with this disease have been admitted to the Vall d’Hebron Children’s Hospital, of which 14 have been admitted to the pediatric Intensive Care Unit. All patients have had a good clinical evolution.

17% of children who have had contact with a sick person have been infected

The Kids Corona study at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital has followed up 724 children who have lived at home with a positive coronavirus parent. As conclusions, 17.5% of these children were infected with Covid-19, similar figure to that of adults infected by contact at home with a positive case, which is 18.9%.

The Hospital will carry out a research project in the summer camps to determine the transmitting capacity of the virus that children have. The study was based on studying 411 families with a total of 724 boys and girls of which at least one of the parents has suffered from the disease.

In addition, the serology test has allowed researchers to discover that 17.5% of children who have lived with a father or mother sick with Covid-19 have also contracted the virus. Is a percentage very similar to that identified in adults who have been in contact with infected (18.9%).