Doctors have observed an increase in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) among patients with COVID-19, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The reason for the sudden increase in MIS-C is unclear, although the increase comes just after the United States experienced an increase in coronavirus cases during the winter, possibly increasing the chances of serious illness. .
“We’re getting more of these MIS-C kids now, but this time it seems like a higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” said Roberta DeBiasi, head of infectious diseases at Washington National Children’s Hospital. DC. the times.
Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, rash, red eyes, and gastrointestinal problems, and some cases may progress to heart dysfunction.
Although the number of cases is increasing, MIS-C remains low, the Times noted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported about 2,060 cases and 30 deaths in 48 states, Puerto Rico and DC.
According to the CDC, the average age of patients with MIS-C is 9 years, with most patients between 1 and 14 years old. However, cases have been observed in patients under 1 year of age and up to 20 years of age.
Most cases have occurred in children of color, the CDC noted, with 69 percent Hispanic, Latino or black. Fifty-eight percent of patients who developed MIS-C were male.
Although daily cases of coronavirus are declining, the most infectious strains in the UK and South Africa are believed to pose a new threat to the US.
Recent research has shown that the UK variant could be more lethal, although current vaccines are believed to be effective in protecting against it. However, the South African variant has been shown to be more resistant to current vaccines.
As the Times noted, most young people survive by contracting COVID-19 and return to relatively healthy conditions, but health experts still do not know what persistent effects will be seen on health. Vaccines are not currently available for most children in most states, as priority is given to front-line health workers, home residents, and the elderly.