PIMS, or childhood complication after COVID-19, can be life-threatening

In Poland, over 19 children fell ill with PIMS, a serious complication of COVID-400. The disease is a multi-system inflammatory syndrome that most often affects young patients aged 8-9 years. – The course of this disease can be dramatic, we have never seen so many children in a short time with such severe and so violent life-threatening circulatory disorders – says Prof. Leszek Szenborn.

1. Even infants can develop PIMS, but the disease most often affects school-age children, 8- and 9-year-olds
2. The disease manifests itself with a very high fever, which they accompany severe pain in the abdomen, head, neck and throat, as well as diarrhea and vomiting
3. Dr. Kamila Ludwikowska: We do not know if the disease does not cause long-term complications
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

PIMS symptoms

PIMS (Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome) is a multi-system inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19. The complication develops in children about 4-6 weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2 and can also occur after asymptomatic infection with coronavirus.

Even infants can develop childhood pocovid syndrome, but the most common disease affects school-age children, 8- and 9-year-olds. So far, specialists have not been able to determine exactly how high the risk of PIMS is after SARS-CoV-2 infection, but they assume that it is less than 1 percent.

The disease manifests itself with high fever, oscillating around 39-40 degrees Celsiuswhich is generally accompanied by very severe pain in the abdomen, head, neck, throat, diarrhea and vomiting. The rash can appear anywhere on the body and appears as pink, ring-shaped spots. The inflammatory syndrome is also manifested by conjunctivitis, chapped lips, swelling of the hands and feet, and severe weakness.

PIMS – the disease is dangerous

The multi-system inflammatory syndrome develops two to six weeks after infection. In more severe cases, the cardiovascular system may be involved, including heart failure and even a heart attack. The symptoms can be so unusual that parents rarely associate them with COVID-19, especially if the infection is asymptomatic. Such connections can be established only in the hospital, after the tests for the presence of antibodies have been performed.

— The course of this disease can be dramatic, never before have we seen so many children in a short time with such severe and violent circulatory disorders, life-threatening. In contrast to the severe course of acute COVID-19, in the case of PIMS, the rapid implementation of appropriate therapy, i.e. immunosuppressive, antiplatelet and possibly anticoagulant treatment, is of fundamental importance and results in a spectacular improvement of the clinical condition within a few days – says Prof. Leszek Szenborn, head of the Department and Clinic of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases at the Medical University of Wrocław.

PIMS. Long-term complications?

While PIMS resembles an infection, it is not contagious. Children with symptoms of this inflammatory syndrome should be treated in a hospital, and specialists in therapy apply drugs to suppress inflammation.

– On the one hand, the good effects of treatment may be optimistic, but on the other hand, we also know that if, for example, acute left ventricular failure or coronary aneurysms develop as a result of PIMS, the child must remain under the care of a cardiologist for a long time. Since we are only observing our patients for several months, we also do not know if the disease does not cause long-term complications – explains Dr. Kamila Ludwikowska from the Department of Paediatrics and Infectious Diseases.

PIMS in Poland

Interestingly, the Polish definition of the disease slightly differs from that established by the WHO. The main difference is that according to the World Health Organization, it is necessary to prove the patient’s exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through documented illness of the child, contact with an infected person, or through positive laboratory PCR tests, antigen or antibody tests. In the Polish definition, this criterion is not obligatory.

And so the state on May 10 this year. the number of children meeting the Polish case definition is 401 cases, and according to WHO criteria – 327. These data are updated on the website pimsudzieci.pl.

Polish statistical studies show that children aged 5 to 12 are most often affected, the average age is 8,6 years.

64 percent boys were patients with PIMS. All the children had a fever, 82 percent. children had a rash, 78 percent conjunctivitis. 83% complained of abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting 63%, and diarrhea 62%.

7,7 percent small patients required treatment in the ICU.

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