Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with COVID-19

In recent weeks, there has been an outbreak of severe Kawasaki-like disease at the Italian epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. As of May 12, 2020, the state of New York Health Department had identified 102 kids with potential infection.

Up to this point, our pediatric population had seen a relatively mild disease course during this pandemic, but these recent developments have captured the attention of pediatricians, parents and the global news media. On May 14, 2020, the CDC officially named this condition “multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C),” and outlined its association with COVID-19.

Listen to pediatric experts discuss multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

In this episode, we will cover the clinical presentation of MIS-C, how it differs from Kawasaki and what the early literature is saying.

Sam Dominguez, MD, PhD, an infectious disease physician at Children's Hospital Colorado and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, joins us to discuss MIS-C in this episode.

We are also fortunate to have Todd Carpenter, MD, Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children's Colorado and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, as a guest on this episode.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• The CDC’s definition of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
• Similarities and differences between MIS-C and Kawasaki disease
• Similarities of MIS-C to toxic shock syndrome
• Findings from initial case series, such as older age compared to kids who typically get Kawasaki disease, severe GI symptoms and higher levels of inflammation
• Hypotheses for why there haven’t been any reported cases of MIS-C in China
• First-line and second-line treatment for MIS-C
• How primary care pediatricians in the community should approach their patient populations based on reports of MIS-C

Treatment of infectious diseases at Children’s Colorado

Our pediatric experts in the Infectious Disease Program at Children's Colorado provide a breadth of expertise ranging from laboratory-based research to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Pediatricians can treat many infectious diseases, but when unique or different symptoms are present, it’s important to refer to a pediatric specialist. We are prepared and ready to treat patients with suspected or confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus. Our clinical staff has been specially trained on how to identify, isolate and treat patients with this and other contagious illnesses.