In recent weeks, hospitals in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Colorado, Nebraska and New Jersey have reported an increase in cases of MIS-C cases, a rare inflammatory condition that occurs in children.
The apparent rise in MIS-C cases coincides with a decline in COVID-19 cases nationwide, following a surge after the holidays. But experts interviewed by ABC News explained that there is often a delay – sometimes three to four weeks – between COVID-19 infections and the onset of MIS-C symptoms.
“MIS-C is a post-infectious complication of coronavirus infection, which manifests only about four weeks or more after a child has had their initial infection,” said Dr. Audrey John, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said. .
Most children infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Although MIS-C is rare, its effects can be devastating and life-threatening, and some patients experience inflammation in the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.
“The increase in MIS-C cases is likely due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, ultimately due to recent trainings such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year and the Super Bowl,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, an ABC News, said. contributor and specialist in infectious diseases at South Shore Health.
Experts in infectious diseases have said that there is no evidence that new COVID-19 variants are more likely to cause MIS-C, and the most likely explanation for the increase in cases is the increase in overall COVID cases during the most recent boom.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were at least 2.8 million U.S. cases of COVID-19 in children. There were about 2060 cases of MIS-C, of which 30 deaths were attributed.
Although the CDC has said that data from the past six weeks are incomplete, hospitals are reporting a dramatic increase in cases – LA County has reported a 35% increase in children with MIS-C over the past two weeks.
“MIS-C can reportedly occur up to 12 weeks after acute COVID-19 infection, even if it is asymptomatic, so we are probably in the middle of the MIS-C wave,” said Dr. Michael Chang, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at McGovern, said. Medical School at UTHealth in Houston.
Children with MIS-C may develop symptoms including fever, palpitations, rapid breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, enlarged lymph nodes or redness and / or swelling in the eyes, lips, tongue, hands or feet. This makes the diagnosis of MIS-C cases much more challenging as it mimics many common pediatric diseases.
Due to racial differences with COVID-19 infections, MIS-C is seen more frequently among black and Latino children, but a significant amount of work remains to be done to determine race, ethnicity and underlying socioeconomic status in the trends of MIS-C cases are playing across the country. pediatric population. Fortunately, most children with MIS-C respond well to IV fluids, antibiotics, steroids, and / or IVIG therapy, and they recover completely.
While experts still do not understand exactly why some children develop MIS-C and others, more COVID-19 cases probably also mean more MIS-C cases. This is why health experts and pediatricians are campaigning for vaccinations for children, and not just for people aged 16 or older who are covered by current vaccines.
“Children are our most precious resource,” said Dr. Tina Cheng, chair of the Cincinnati Children’s Pediatrics Department, said. “It’s less than 10% of U.S. health care spending, but it’s 100% of our future.”
Raehannah Jamshidi, MD, Ph.D., a pediatrician at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, is a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.