COVID-19 in Children & Paediatric Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome

Abstract

On April 26, 2020, clinicians in the United Kingdom (UK) recognized increased reports of previously healthy children presenting with a severe inflammatory syndrome with Kawasaki disease-like features. The cases occurred in children testing positive for current or recent infection by SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, based on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or serologic assay, or who had an epidemiologic link to a COVID-19 case. Patients presented with persistent fever and a constellation of symptoms including hypotension, multiorgan (e.g., cardiac, gastrointestinal, renal, hematologic, dermatologic and neurologic) involvement, and elevated inflammatory markers.² Respiratory symptoms were not present in all cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided background information on several cases, and a case definition for this syndrome. There is an enhanced alert for all health providers to be aware of this new diagnosis and report cases that they encounter urgently. This quick review provides an overview of the evidence so far and will be useful for those caring for children in the pandemic and beyond.