A 10-year-old boy in Michigan has had four amputations of his hands and legs after a rare bout of a serious coronavirus-related inflammatory disease.
Dae’Shun Jamison was diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and his right leg was amputated in early February at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a spokesperson for Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, where the boy entered rehabilitation and recovery, confirmed to Fox News. The child was returned to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital on Monday for amputations of both hands and his left leg.
Brittney Autman, the mother of the child, told the story on a related GoFundMe page and wrote Tuesday, “Dae’Shun is very emotional about his amputations and it breaks my heart. Let the prayers come. “
Patients struggling with this rare, severe inflammatory condition may experience limb loss as a result of a hyperinflammatory response that affects the body’s blood clotting ability, an expert explained.
According to Dr. Rosemary Olivero, chief of pediatric infectious disease at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, some MIS-C patients undergo severe heart failure, which affects how the body pumps blood to the rest of the body. The heart defect, in conjunction with blood clotting or bleeding problems, can obstruct blood flow throughout the body, she said.
Autman said her son had to have his hands amputated “due to lack of blood flow and damaged tissue on his hands,” also wrote last month, “Dae’Shun has [sic] had a blood clot in the artery of his right hand for more than 2 weeks and the blood thinners he’s on [sic] does not work…”
“Some patients with MIS-C have really extreme changes in their blood clotting factors. Some of them may even clot too much in some parts of their body and then too little in other parts of their body, ‘said Olivero, adding later,’ the inappropriate clotting is one of many very serious consequences of MIS -C. It doesn’t happen in all patients, but it can happen in some and can really lead to further organ damage due to the mechanics of blood flow. “
Although medical professionals have become more adept at standardized care for MIS-C, the syndrome remains incredibly challenging due to the complex nature of the disease, Olivero said.
When the child was told about the amputations in January, Autman wrote: “He understood everything. He understood that when he did [would] wake up, his leg won’t look the same. Dae’Shun broke down completely in tears, which resulted [sic] me in so many ways. “
The boy had suffered a severe course of the disease all winter, while his mother described his treatment with kidney dialysis, lung support, and a feeding tube.
Olivero said that amputations due to MIS-C are “a very unique and unfortunate consequence.”
MIS-C usually develops several weeks after a previous COVID-19 infection and can lead to organ damage as a result of a hyperinflammatory response.
“Your body secretes a ton of inflammatory chemicals that actually reproduce the immune system, which can be very damaging to the organs of the body,” explains Olivero, describing MIS-C.
Treatments aim to relieve an intense inflammatory response that includes a response to infection. More specifically, treatments include IVIg (intravenous immunoglobulin treatment), or pools of antibodies with particularly potent anti-inflammatory properties, as well as steroids to calm the immune system. Children with ongoing inflammation problems or those who require intensive care may be given more targeted anti-inflammatories or immunomodulators.
If a child is infected with COVID-19, they generally fare better and develop only mild or asymptomatic disease. This can make it challenging for parents to spot a case of MIS-C early. Significant community transmission of COVID-19 is likely to increase the prevalence of MIS-C and parents should monitor children for signs such as fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, inflammation of the skin, eyes, hands or feet, rash. or lips or eyes that appear red, Olivero said. Some children have swollen hands or feet, while others have enlarged lymph nodes.
The expert recommended that parents concerned about MIS-C contact their doctor immediately for evaluation.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2,000 MIS-C cases nationwide have been reported as of Feb. 1, affecting disproportionately many minorities.