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 found in children.
The apparent increase in MIS-C cases coincides with a decrease in COVID-19 cases across the country, in the wake of a post-holiday rise. 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 that does not manifest itself until about four weeks or more after a child has the initial infection,” said Dr. Audrey John, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. .
Most children infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. While MIS-C is rare, its effects can be devastating and life-threatening, with some patients experiencing inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.
“The increase in MIS-C cases is likely due to the rise in COVID-19 infections, ultimately due to the recent holiday peaks such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and the Super Bowl,” said Dr. Todd Ellerin, an ABC News employee and infectious disease specialist at South Shore Health.
Infectious disease experts said there is no evidence that new COVID-19 variants are likely to cause MIS-C, and the most likely explanation for the increase in the number of cases is the increase in the total number of COVID cases during the most recent rise.
At least 2.8 million U.S. cases of COVID-19 have occurred in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have been approximately 2,060 cases of MIS-C, with 30 deaths attributed to them.
While the CDC said the data for the past six weeks is not complete, hospitals report a dramatic rise in the number of cases – LA County reported a 35% increase in children with MIS-C in the past two weeks.
“MIS-C can reportedly present 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 specialist. infectious diseases in McGovern. Medical School at UTHealth in Houston.
Children with MIS-C may develop symptoms such as fever, palpitations, rapid breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, or redness and / or swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, hands, or feet. That makes diagnosing MIS-C cases much more challenging, as it mimics common pediatric illnesses.
Reflecting racial differences with COVID-19 infections, MIS-C is more commonly seen in Black and Latino children, but much work remains to be done to determine how race, ethnicity and underlying socioeconomic status play a role in the trends of MIS-C cases around the world. pediatric population. Fortunately, most children with MIS-C respond well to IV fluids, antibiotics, steroids, and / or IVIG therapy and make a full recovery.
While experts still don’t understand exactly why some children develop MIS-C and others don’t, more COVID-19 cases in children probably means more MIS-C cases as well. That’s why health experts and pediatricians are pushing for vaccines for children, not just people 16 or older who are covered by current vaccines.
“Children are our most valuable resource,” said Dr. Tina Cheng, chair of the pediatrics department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “They are less than 10% of US health care spending, but they are 100% of our future.”
Raehannah Jamshidi, MD, Ph.D., a pediatric resident of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston, is a contributor to the ABC News Medical Unit.