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So far, we have been convinced that children infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild or asymptomatic disease. Over the past few weeks, there have been more and more reports of a new disease among children that may be related to COVID-19. Children develop symptoms similar to those of Kawasaki syndrome. What do we know about the new threat?
The NHS makes parents aware of any unusual symptoms in their children
In late April, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) asked parents to pay attention to a rare but dangerous reaction in children that may be related to the coronavirus. This was related to information provided to the NHS by the Pediatric Intensive Care Society that there was a slight increase in the number of critically ill children admitted to hospital departments. Some of the children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Read: Rare symptoms in children that may be related to the coronavirus
The following days brought more reports of atypical symptoms observed in children. Cases of the mysterious disease have been found in children and adolescents in the United States, France, Italy, and Spain. What do we know about this disease, which is presented as Atypical Kawasaki Syndrome and in recent days has become known as Pediatric Multiple System Inflammatory Syndrome (PIMS)?
Research from Italy on the relationship between Kawasaki disease and COVID-19 in children
Southern Italian doctors published an article on the relationship between Kawasaki disease and COVID-19 in children on Wednesday in The Lancet. The new evidence comes from Bergamo, a city at the center of the coronavirus pandemic. The medical records of the hospital there showed that 10 of the 19 cases of Kawasaki disease reported in the last five years were diagnosed between mid-February and mid-April 2020.
The article states that eight out of 10 children tested positive for COVID-19, and the other two were likely false negative. Doctors wrote that there is a strong link between the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and Kawasaki disease and that this should be taken into account when considering when and how to mitigate the containment as the pandemic spreads.
Our study provides the first clear evidence of a link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and this inflammation. I have no doubt that Kawasaki disease in these patients is caused by SARS-CoV-2
Said lead author Dr Lorenzo D’Antiga, director of children’s health at the hospital.
According to data from the British NHS, about 25 percent children with Kawasaki disease have complications in the form of heart disease. Kawasaki syndrome usually affects children under the age of five. Symptoms of the disease include fever, red eyes, swelling of the hands and feet, and abdominal pain.
The World Health Organization also commented on worrying reports from hospitals around the world about the “childhood variant” of COVID-19. In a published scientific report, he notes the increased admission of children and adolescents to ICUs with multi-system inflammation with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome.
fever lasting more than 5 days, swollen glands in the neck, swelling and redness of the mouth and lips, redness of the mouth and lips strawberry or raspberry tongue, measles-like rash on the body and limbs, peeling skin on the fingertips, reddening of the hands and symmetrical swelling.
A nine-year-old in France and at least three children in New York died of a mysterious illness.
Pay attention to these symptoms in children
WHO pays attention to catching symptoms such as fever, inflammation, hypotension and shock, and the New York City Department of Health adds prolonged abdominal pain, skin rash, conjunctivitis, and uneven heartbeat to these symptoms.
In countries with high prevalence, more cases of the mysterious disease similar to Kawasaki’s syndrome have been reported. Some of the sick children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 or antibodies, which could indicate that they had been in contact with the pathogen.
The French public health agency said at least 1 children with atypical pediatric diseases have been reported as of March 144. The Spanish pediatric association issued a similar warning to the NHS in April.
The WHO in its report said preliminary hypotheses are that the disease seen in children may be related to COVID-19. However, it is necessary to characterize this syndrome and risk factors, as well as understand the cause-and-effect chain and describe the treatment processes.
See also: Coronavirus can cause Kawasaki syndrome