DENVER – There are now 29 confirmed cases in Colorado of a still mysterious inflammatory syndrome seen in children and young adults, which is believed to be an after-effect of the virus that causes COVID-19, state health officials said Wednesday. .
The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE) said that Colorado hospitals reported the highest number of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in December than has been reported so far in the entire pandemic.
The department said the data was in line with the increase in COVID-19 cases seen by the state during October and November and that the number of cases would grow as the CDC reviewed possible cases in December.
Public health officials and scientists are still finding out more about the syndrome, which most commonly occurs in children who have had COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who has had the virus. But the CDPHE said the official cause of MIS-C has not yet been determined.
The department only warned about MIS-C in May, when it was confirmed that three children had the syndrome. By July, two people had died from MIS-C – deaths that, according to the state, occurred in the spring.
The CDPHE said Wednesday that there were no further deaths related to the syndrome, which usually affects children ages 5-15, but it was found in young adults up to 20, including a 20-year-old from Boulder County, the local department of public health. identified in October.
While some Colorado school children are returning to the classroom, and more districts hoping to begin the process soon, the CDPHE’s chief medical officer said it’s time to remind people that the syndrome can occur in children who often have mild cases of COVID-19. or is asymptomatic.
“There is still a lot we do not know about MIS-C, and the noticeable increase in cases is a clear reminder that our children are also at risk of serious complications due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Eric France, CDPHE’s medical chief said. “Since learning has resumed, it is important that students continue to take measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, such as masking, taking physical distance, washing hands and staying home when they are ill.”
Symptoms associated with MIS-C include inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal system, as well as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, bloodshot eyes and more.
The CDPHE said parents of children who show symptoms should contact their child’s healthcare provider and look for emergencies for life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, inability to stay awake, blue lips or faces or severe abdomen. ache.
The department also recommends that children of all ages be tested for COVID-19 if they show symptoms.