“This is a brand new syndrome, just like COVID-19 was. So we don’t know everything about it yet,” Patterson said.
MIS-C is a new syndrome in children and teens, mostly between the ages of four and 15, and is believed to be associated with the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. As of now, the syndrome is considered rare, but it can be fatal if left untreated, according to the CCCHD.
“This is just another example of how dangerous (the coronavirus) can be,” Patterson said.
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The inflammatory syndrome causes inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body causing limited blood flow which can damage the heart, kidneys and other organs, according to the CCCHD.
MIS-C was first identified in New York City and the state of New York a couple of months ago after doctors who were treating children who had recovered from COVID-19 noticed the children began to experience “an odd set of symptoms,” Patterson said.
Symptoms usually develop within four weeks of being exposed to COVID-19 and include fever, unusual weakness or fatigue, a red rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, red/cracked lips, red eyes and swollen hands or feet.
There is no one medication used to fight the syndrome, Patterson said. Instead, doctors use a combination of anti-inflammatory medication.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, outside of symptoms not a lot about MIS-C is known yet as the syndrome is still so new.
“CDC is still learning about MIS-C and how it affects children, so we don’t know why some children have gotten sick with MIS-C and others have not. We also do not know if children with certain health conditions are more likely to get MIS-C. These are among the many questions CDC is working to try to understand,” the CDC’s website says.
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Patterson said while the research into MIS-C is ongoing, it’s important for parents to know that children and teens cannot contract MIS-C on its own. Instead, patients are exposed to or contract COVID-19 and their bodies fight the virus in a different way, causing their bodies to kick into a “hyperimmune system response” that can lead to MIS-C Patterson said.
Because the syndrome originates from COVID-19, Patterson said the best way to prevent your children from getting MIS-C is to practice coronavirus prevention habits like wearing a mask and social distancing.
“The best way to prevent it is to prevent the coronavirus from occurring. We don’t know who this is going to affect. We don’t know who this is going to affect more than others,” Patterson said. “Rather than rolling the dice, we need to wear masks and social distance until we get a vaccine.”
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