What are the symptoms of the rare, coronavirus-related syndrome making children sick?
A fever for more than five days. Rashes. Bloodshot eyes. Swollen hands and feet. Stomach pain. Vomiting.
Those are some of the symptoms of a rare inflammatory syndrome showing up in children across the country that experts say could be linked to COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to alert thousands of the nation’s physicians about the illness that has sent some children to the intensive care unit, CNN reported.
In Kansas City, “Children’s Mercy has one patient we’re treating for pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome,” said hospital spokeswoman Lisa Augustine, using the current name for the syndrome. “We want to reiterate that it’s very rare.”
St. Louis Children’s Hospital has two possible cases, too.
The syndrome was first seen by doctors in the United Kingdom, but reports of cases in the United States have popped up in recent days. Health officials in New York state are investigating 102 cases; three children there have died.
Doctors don’t know yet what’s causing the illness, or how it might be connected to the coronavirus. Some children tested positive for COVID-19, others have not. Some experts think it could be a delayed reaction caused by a child’s immune system revving up to fight off the infection.
Symptoms are similar to those of a rare inflammatory illness known as Kawasaki disease.
“It’s a wide array of symptoms, as you can see, which makes it even harder for parents to know exactly what they’re dealing with,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during his daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday.
Symptoms reportedly differ from child to child. New York health officials have seen these symptoms: diarrhea, loss of appetite and lethargyl difficulty breathing in infants, a racing heart or chest pain, and pale, patchy and/or blue skin coloring.
Parents are advised to call their pediatrician if their child doesn’t need immediate medical attention. They can also call the Children’s Mercy Nurse Advice Line — 816-234-3188.
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