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At least 285 American children have developed severe inflammation from the coronavirus infection, and while most have recovered, it is still unclear what effects the disease will have on their health.
Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children caused by COVID-19
Although children are less likely to become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and if they do become infected, they usually have it asymptomatically, more and more observations show that COVID-19 is also dangerous for them.
From studies published, among others The New England Journal of Medicine shows that at least 285 American children have developed a rare inflammation caused by the coronavirus. Six of them died. Worldwide, the multisystemic inflammatory syndrome has been diagnosed in approximately 1000 children.
Symptoms in children who have or have had COVID-19 include: fever lasting more than 24 hours, markers of inflammation in blood tests, problems in at least two organs: heart, kidneys, lungs, skin. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea and diarrhea, are also common. Some children may develop symptoms that resemble Kawasaki disease.
Approx. 80 percent out of 285 reported cases had heart problems, including coronary aneurysms that pose a threat to health and life.
Most of the children who were affected by the multi-system inflammatory syndrome were healthy and had no comorbidities. Approx. 30 percent the children were obese. Researchers have observed that boys, as well as Hispanic and black children, are more likely to experience severe symptoms of infection. The average age of children is 8 years.
See more articles on this topic:
- Coronavirus in children. Largest study on COVID-19 in children. What was established?
- Rare symptoms in children that may be related to the coronavirus
- A cytokine storm in children after contracting coronavirus. It can be fatal
- A mysterious disease of children related to COVID-19. What do we already know about it?