Doctors have seen an increase in multisystem inflammation syndrome in children (MIS-C) among COVID-19 patients, The New York Times Tuesday reported.
The reason for the sudden increase in MIS-C is unclear, but the upswing comes just after the U.S. had an increase in coronavirus cases during the winter, potentially increasing the chance of serious illness.
“We’re getting more of these MIS-C children now, but this time it seems like a higher percentage of them are really critically ill,” said Roberta DeBiasi, head of infectious diseases at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC the times.
Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, rash, red eyes and gastrointestinal problems, and some cases can lead to heart dysfunction.
Although the number of cases is increasing, MIS-C remains scarce, the Times noted. About 2060 cases and 30 deaths in 48 states, Puerto Rico and DC, were recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the CDC, the mean age of patients with MIS-C is 9, with most patients between 1 and 14. However, cases have been observed in patients younger than 1 and as old as 20.
The CDC said most cases occurred in children of color, with 69 percent Spanish, Latino or black. Fifty-eight percent of the patients developing MIS-C were men.
Although the daily incidence of coronavirus is declining, the more contagious strains in the UK and South Africa are likely to be a new threat in the US.
Recent research has found that the British variant may be more lethal, although current vaccines are believed to be effective in protecting it. However, the South African variant has been shown to be more resistant to current vaccines.
As the Times noted, most young people survive COVID-19 and return to relatively healthy conditions, but health experts are not yet sure about the lingering health effects. There are currently no vaccinations available for most children in most states, as leading health care workers, residents of nursing homes, and the elderly are prioritized.