Beware of MIS-C Disease in Children with COVID-19!

MIS-C, that is, “multisystem inflammatory syndrome”, may be seen in children exposed to the Sars CoV-2 virus, due to the virus triggering the immune system. Because some children have COVID-19 infection without any symptoms, in other words, they are “asymptomatic” or because their family members are not tested because the child had mild symptoms at the time the child was infected, the fact that the child was not diagnosed at that time does not mean that the child will not have MIS-C. MIS-C is an important disease that needs to be definitively diagnosed and treated quickly as a result of some tests performed in the hospital. This disease can disrupt heart functions by causing problems in the coronary vessels that provide circulation to the heart. For this reason, it is very important to carry out multidisciplinary follow-up and organize the necessary treatments by more than one department, especially pediatric health and diseases, pediatric infectious diseases and pediatric cardiology.

MIS-C disease may also develop in children who have not been tested or have no known diagnosis of COVID-19. It is very important to question the contact story here. Contact with all kinds of COVID-19 patients, especially at home, is a risk for children, and antibody tests that provide information about previous infection with the virus should be performed in these patients.

MIS-C does not occur in every child who has COVID-19

Those who have had COVID-19 with silent or very mild complaints can usually be diagnosed with MIS-C by applying to a healthcare institution with very serious symptoms after 2-4 weeks (this period may vary depending on the patient). This disease does not occur in every child with COVID-19; there are many unknown factors, especially epigenetic factors, as to which child will develop it. What is known is that although this virus does not cause the disease itself in the susceptible child, it triggers the factors that cause the disease, that is, it triggers the event. Unlike COVID-19, it is not an infectious disease.

Attention should be paid to disease symptoms

Although this disease is rare, it is a serious condition and it is important for families to help physicians to know its symptoms well. If some of the following findings, especially resistant fever, are present in people with a previous (usually 2-4 weeks ago) or a recent COVID-19 infection or a history of contact with a COVID-19 infected person, this disease should be suspected and a health institution should be consulted immediately. :

• The most important thing is the presence of persistent fever over 38 degrees for more than 24 hours,
• Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
• Having rashes on the body,
• Redness and bloodshot eyes without crusting (conjunctivitis),
• Involvement of mucous membranes (chapped lips, red-cracked tongue, etc.),
• Headache,
• Respiratory problems (rapid breathing, difficulty breathing),
• Muscle and joint pains,
• Peeling on the skin, especially on the hands and feet.

MIS-C is a treatable disease

MIS-C is a treatable disease. This disease, which does not cause permanent damage when treated well, can cause some serious health problems, especially coronary arteries, in untreated people. These patients need to be followed up, especially by departments such as pediatric cardiology and pediatric infectious diseases, both during the diagnosis and treatment phase and in the post-treatment period.