Since the beginning of the pandemic, three people have died in Arizona related to a rare COVID-related disease in children, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
FULL SECTION: Everything you need to know about coronavirus
An ADHS representative told ABC15 that they have received reports of three confirmed deaths related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C. Citing privacy issues, the agency would not disclose further details.
MIS-C is a very rare but serious condition that affects some children several weeks after an infection or exposure to COVID-19.
A mother from the Valley, Reanna Milliman, told ABC15 that her 8-year-old daughter Raelynn was recently released from hospital after spending more than two weeks in the ICU by MIS-C.
“She’s just so much better and she’s happy,” Milliman said.
This was not the case in March, when Milliman said fever and fatigue increased and his daughter began suffering from severe gastrointestinal problems that landed Raelynn in the ICU.
“Talking to the surgeon and being told that they will have to remove the entire colon … it was an extremely difficult thing for a mother to hear,” she said.
Fortunately, Raelynn did not have to undergo surgery, although she has also dealt with blood clots and is now seeing doctors on a regular basis while recovering.
The Arizona Department of Health Services told ABC15 that there were 116 confirmed cases of MIS-C in Arizona.
“Every time we had an increase in COVID-19 cases, this increase in COVID-19 cases was followed by an increase in MIS-C cases,” said Dr. Wassim Ballan, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases. Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Ballan said fever is a major component of the MIS-C diagnosis, but other symptoms may include abdominal pain, vomiting, rash, or pink eyes, among others.
“Having a fever is a common thing,” Dr. Ballan said. “This does not mean that every time a child has a fever we should be very concerned about MIS-C. But it is certainly something to keep in mind while we are dealing with the pandemic, especially if there is [COVID-19] previous exhibition “.
Milliman, whose daughter was treated at a different hospital in the valley, said Raelynn is doing much better, but she still has an unclear road to continue recovering.
“You can now eat normally and play normally and laugh normally,” Milliman said. “At the hospital, the doctors told me this was one of the worst cases they have ever seen.”
Although it is an uncommon condition, Milliman hopes to raise awareness among other parents.
“Just pay attention to these signs and don’t take them lightly,” he said.
Milliman still has a GoFundMe account to help his daughter, which you can find HERE.