COVID-19 & Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome In Children

We’ve weathered the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, many still cope with the aftermath – lingering conditions resulting from COVID-19 infections. For some, it’s severe fatigue, inflammation and problems with their immune system or respiratory symptoms such as trouble breathing and a cough that won’t go away.

Some children experience a rare condition called multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), multi-system inflammatory syndrome causes different body parts to become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal tract.

During the height of the pandemic, many children didn’t experience serious symptoms from the SARS-CoV-2 infection (the virus that causes COVID-19). But some doctors said they saw kids with COVID-19 infections in Europe and the United States with new symptoms of MIS-C. 

According to the CDC, studies show that early in the COVID-19 pandemic, MIS-C occurred in one of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 children and adolescents who had the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Luckily, MIS-C has become rarer since the pandemic’s start: the number of MIS-C cases reported decreased from 2020 to 2022.

Researchers are still working to uncover why some children get MIS-C after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and others do not.

What Are Signs Of Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome?

The most common signs of multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children include ongoing fever along with more than one of the following symptoms:

• Stomach pain
• Bloodshot eyes
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness (signs of low blood pressure)
• Skin rash
• Vomiting

Not all children will have the same symptoms.

How Are Symptoms Of MIS-C Different From Other Diseases?

MIS-C symptoms resemble other diseases, such as Kawasaki disease and other viral and bacterial infections. Because of the similarities, your child’s pediatrician may run tests to determine the cause of symptoms.

Kawasaki disease mainly affects children younger than 5 years. The exact cause is unknown, but it causes inflammation and swelling in the blood vessels. People diagnosed with Kawasaki disease can go into cardiac arrest or may develop heart, kidney, gastrointestinal or neurological disorders.

Signs of Kawasaki disease include:

• High fever
• Rash
• Swelling of the hands and feet
• Irritation and redness in the whites of the eyes
• Swelling of the neck glands
• Irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips and throat.

According to the American Heart Association, other common symptoms of Kawasaki disease differ from pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome. Those signs include:

• Rash, which may appear on the back, chest or abdomen
• Red, irritated eyes
• Redness in swollen areas of hands or feet
• Swelling or changes around the mouth
• Dry and red cracked lips
• Red tongue with white spots (called “strawberry tongue”)
• Fast heart rate
• Skin peeling

Cases of multi-system inflammatory syndrome appear in children, teens and, in some cases, young adults.

What Should Parents Know About Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome?

According to Lisa C. Gold, MD, a pediatrician with Franciscan Physician Network Crown Point Pediatric Health Center, multi-system inflammatory syndrome is still rare.

“Parents should be aware of this syndrome but not worry about it,” she said, stressing its rarity.

Research shows that most children with MIS-C get well quickly and without lasting health damage. But if your child has been diagnosed with MIS-C, it’s important to talk with their doctor. They will need to be cleared by a cardiologist before participating in exercise and strenuous activities.