Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From the South of Colombia: One Year of Experience.

Background: Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is one of the most severe presentations of COVID-19 infection in pediatrics. Currently, we have few studies that describe the characteristics of this condition in Colombian children. Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children hospitalized with MIS-C in Neiva, Colombia. Methods: Observational follow-up study of a cohort of children with MIS-C for 12 months (May 15, 2020, to May 30, 2021) in two hospitals in the city of Neiva. Epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, laboratory characteristics, cardiological evaluation, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: We included 34 patients who met the diagnosis of MIS-C. The median age was 68 months. Some type of nutritional issue was observed by 43.75% of those under 5 years of age and by 27.78% of those over 5 years of age. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequent, with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain being the most frequent by 79, 70, and 67%, respectively. By 77% of the patients, a history of SARS-COV-2 infection was documented through IgG. In the echocardiogram, 35.4% of the patients had systolic dysfunction, followed by coronary involvement by 35%. Conclusion: This study describes a series of cases of children with MIS-C in Colombia. Gastrointestinal manifestations were predominant. Mortality was high in comparison to other countries but similar to that reported in Colombia. This fact was associated with relevant pathological background. More training is required for physicians in order to have a better understanding of the disease so as to have an early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Abdominal manifestation of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children.

SUMMARY: Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) can develop as a complication of SARS CoV-2 infection, involving the gastrointestinal system mainly by vasoconstriction, edema, glandular hyperplasia, and a procoagulant state leading to direct tissue injury. METHOD: ology: a series of cases including 8 patients with MIS-C treated in two highly complex institutions is presented. These patients, had abdominal symptoms of surgical management. RESULTS: The average age was 9.5 years and the most frequent symptoms were fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea (100%); in addition, 87.5% presented shock. The diagnosis of SARS CoV-2 was confirmed by RT-PCR test in 37.5%, antigen 12.5% and the rest of the patients showed IgM and IgG antibodies. In laboratories, the increase in acute phase reactants, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, as well as troponin, D dimer and proBNP, is highlighted. The surgical outcome documented 2 patients with a normal appendix, 3 patients with edematous appendicitis, and 3 patients with complicated appendicitis. CONCLUSIONS: patients with MIS-C display abdominal symptoms similar to those present in surgical emergencies and a non-negligible number of cases require surgical exploration. This condition poses a new differential diagnosis to the surgical abdomen in pediatric patients.