15 children in New York have recently shown rare symptoms of the Kawasaki disease. Health officials are worried thinking that this might be linked to COVID-19.
These cases were identified after the NYC Health Department contacted pediatric intensive care units between April 29 and May 3. The patients needed heart and/or respiratory support.
A multi-system inflammatory syndrome was found in 15 children aged between 2 to 15 years. This happened between April 17 and May 1. As written in a health alert by Dr Demetre C. Daskalakis, deputy commissioner in the Division of Disease Control at New York City Health Department.
No fatalities have been reported yet.
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What is a multi-system inflammatory syndrome?
In this syndrome, the immune system released proteins called cytokines at a level that is harmful to the body.
It can make blood vessels leak resulting in a low blood pressure. Fluid can accumulate in the lungs and other organs.
Some patients might even need intensive care unit to support their organs.
Last week, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist, told reporters at a press briefing:
“There are some recent rare descriptions of children in some European countries that have had this inflammatory syndrome, which is similar to the Kawasaki syndrome, but it seems to be very rare.”
What is Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the coronary arteries and blood vessels. It is also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
It affects children aged around two but some cases have been found in teenagers as well. (According to the American Heart Association)
Most of the cases have been seen in children who were of Japanese and Asian descent. The recovery rate is good but they might need urgent intensive support for heart problems.
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Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease are fever, rash, swollen hands and feet, red and irritated eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritated and inflamed mouth, lips, and throat, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control states.
It is of utmost importance that if any symptoms are detected, immediate action should be taken to prevent organ-level damage in the body. This can lead to long-term complications if not treated in time.
Doctors say this also happens with Ebola, causing the body to go into shock.
3 phases of Kawasaki
The condition develops in three phases, starting from a rash and temperature in the first few weeks, diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach pain in the second and feeling tired and a lack of energy in the third.
Children under the age of five are most at risk.
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, deputy city health commissioner for disease control, said in the memo to health care providers:
‘If the above-described inflammatory syndrome is suspected, paediatricians should immediately refer patients to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology, and/or critical care, as indicated.
A 12-year old went from being healthy to living on a ventilator for 4 days
A Louisiana girl’s heart stopped for two minutes when she developed the rare life-threatening inflammatory syndrome.
She almost died when the coronavirus seemed to trigger a rare heart condition. She is one of the first identified cases in the US of these symptoms of Kawasaki disease.
