COVID-19 in children: multisystem inflammatory syndrome

Purpose — to analyze of peculiarities of MIS-C in children of Lviv region. Materials and methods. We have analyzed medical records of 16 children who were treated in Communal Non-Commercial Establishment of Lviv Regional Council «Lviv Regional Children Clinical Hospital «OKHMATDYT» in the period from September 2020 to January 2021 with the diagnosis of MIS-C, associated with SARS-CoV-2. Results. MIS-C was diagnosed in 16 children (average age was 8,2±0,065 years, girls:boys = 1:0.6). None of our patients was the «primary source of SARS-CoV-2» in the household but contracted coronavirus disease after a contact with the sick relatives. The disease occurred in 4 (25%) children against the background of acute coronavirus disease, in 4 (25%) more children during the first month and 8 (50%) children more than a month after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. All children has febrile fever and general weakness. Besides, in most of the patients clinical progression of MIS-C was characterized by typical skin rashes and conjunctivitis (13 children — 81,5%), facial swelling and edema of distal parts of extremities (11 children — 68,75%). Muscle pain was present in 9 (56%) children, hyperesthesia — in 4 (25%) children, gastrointestinal symptoms — in 8 (50%) our patients. Myocarditis was diagnosed in 4 (25%) children, linear dilatation of coronary arteries (2 children — 12,5%) and small aneurysms (1 child — 6,25%) — in 3 (18,75%) our patients. All these changes returned to normal 1 month after discharge from the hospital. Conclusions. MIS-C response before the 48th day after acute coronavirus disease and is characterized by typical clinical course. Treatment with human immunoglobulin at the dose of 1–2 g/kg, glucocorticosteroids at the dose of 1–2 mg/kg, aspirin 3-5 mg/kg against the background of antibacterial therapy is effective for the prevention of changes in the coronary arteries and for the recovery of all patients. The research was conducted in accordance with the principles of bioethics set out in the WMA Declaration of Helsinki and Universal Declaration on Bioethics and was approved by the Commission on Ethics of Scientific Research, Experimental Developments and Scientific Works of Dany-lo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University. The informed consent of the patients was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors. © 2022, Group of Companies Med Expert, LLC. All rights reserved.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and SARS-CoV-2 variants: a two-year ambispective multicentric cohort study in Catalonia, Spain.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but severe disease temporarily related to SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings of all MIS-C cases diagnosed in children < 18 years old in Catalonia (Spain) to study their trend throughout the pandemic. This was a multicenter ambispective observational cohort study (April 2020-April 2022). Data were obtained from the COVID-19 Catalan surveillance system and from all hospitals in Catalonia. We analyzed MIS-C cases regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants for demographics, symptoms, severity, monthly MIS-C incidence, ratio between MIS-C and accumulated COVID-19 cases, and associated rate ratios (RR). Among 555,848 SARS-CoV-2 infections, 152 children were diagnosed with MIS-C. The monthly MIS-C incidence was 4.1 (95% CI: 3.4-4.8) per 1,000,000 people, and 273 (95% CI: 230-316) per 1,000,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections (i.e., one case per 3,700 SARS-CoV-2 infections). During the Omicron period, the MIS-C RR was 8.2 (95% CI: 5.7-11.7) per 1,000,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections, which was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that for previous variant periods in all age groups. The median [IQR] age of MIS-C was 8 [4-11] years, 62.5% male, and 80.2% without comorbidities. Common symptoms were gastrointestinal findings (88.2%) and fever > 39 °C (81.6%); nearly 40% had an abnormal echocardiography, and 7% had coronary aneurysm. Clinical manifestations and laboratory data were not different throughout the variant periods (p > 0.05).  Conclusion: The RR between MIS-C cases and SARS-CoV-2 infections was significantly lower in the Omicron period for all age groups, including those not vaccinated, suggesting that the variant could be the main factor for this shift in the MISC trend. Regardless of variant type, the patients had similar phenotypes and severity throughout the pandemic. What is Known: • Before our study, only two publications investigated the incidence of MIS-C regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants in Europe, one from Southeast England and another from Denmark. What is New: • To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating MIS-C incidence in Southern Europe, with the ability to recruit all MIS-C cases in a determined area and analyze the rate ratio for MIS-C among SARS-CoV-2 infections throughout variant periods. • We found a lower rate ratio of MISC/infections with SARS-CoV-2 in the Omicron period for all age groups, including those not eligible for vaccination, suggesting that the variant could be the main factor for this shift in the MISC trend.

Pediatric inflammatory multisystemic syndrome in Brazil: sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors to death.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of MIS-C in Brazil, describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the pediatric population affected by MIS-C and compare mortality and lethality outcomes with isolated Covid-19 and MIS-C cases. METHODS: Observational and retrospective cohort study of cases of MIS-C associated with Covid-19 in the Brazilian population between 04/01/2020 and 04/17/2021. Data from the Ministry of Health's epidemiological bulletin up to the 15th epidemiological week of 2021, were used. The analyzes were descriptive through absolute and relative frequencies. The significance level is 5% in Stata 16.0 package. RESULTS: Between 04/01/2020 and 04/07/2021, 903 cases of MIS-C associated with Covid-19 were notified in Brazil, of which, the largest part (55.26%) were male, between 0 and 4 years old (45.29%), from the Southeast region (38.76%). The deaths (61; 6.7%) were higher in the female gender, between 0 and 4 years old (47.54%) and in the Southeast region (34.43%). It was identified that the risk of death by MIS-C related to Covid-19 is 5.29 (CI = 2.83; 9.87 and P-value = <0.001) times higher in adolescents from 15-19 years old than in other age groups when compared to 0-4 years old children. Also, the residency in North region was as risk factor to death (RR = 3.72, IC = 1.29; 10.74 e P-value = 0.008). CONCLUSION: In this study, despite the numbers showing more deaths from zero to 4 years old, the risk for teenagers is notably higher. In addition, Brazil's Northern region is a risk factor that reaffirms social inequality and poor access to health.

Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection With Multiorgan Involvement Followed by MIS-C in an Adolescent

Children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) generally have mild symptoms. Severe infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) involving multiorgan dysfunction is rare in this population. Herein, we present an unusual case of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection with multiorgan involvement followed by multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in a vaccinated 16-year-old boy. The patient was unconscious on initial presentation, and had severe paralytic ileus. On laboratory examination, there was severe metabolic acidosis, lymphocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated inflammatory markers, elevated liver enzymes, and evidence of acute kidney injury with proteinuria and hematuria. His symptoms improved with the administration of remdesivir and dexamethasone. The patient briefly experienced MIS-C 2 weeks after the diagnosis of COVID-19, but the patient was discharged without any complications. © 2022 The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.

Gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory response syndrome in children

Aim: analysis of the course of SARS-Cov-2-associated multisystem inflammatory response syndrome (MIS-C) with gastrointestinal disorders in comparison with MIS-C without gastrointestinal manifestations in children of the Lviv region. Materials and methods. Analysis of medical records of children under the age of 15 years who were treated at the CNE LRC LRCCH "OHMATDYT" with a diagnosis of MIS-C associated with SARS-Cov-2. Results. Gastrointestinal manifestations of MIS-C associated with SARS-Cov-2 were observed in 52.38 % of children, and other symptoms in this group of patients included headache and cough. Levels of specific SARS-Cov-2 IgG did not differ significantly in children with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. In contrast, patients with MIS-C without gastrointestinal manifestations were more likely to have myocardial dysfunction, requiring longer hospitalization. Children with gastrointestinal manifestations of MIS-C were more likely to be obese. Conclusions. The severity of the clinical course of multi-inflammatory systemic response syndrome associated with SARS-Cov-2 did not depend on the severity and time elapsed since acute coronavirus disease and was not associated with gastrointestinal manifestations, which were observed in 52.38 % of patients. Cough and headache, even in the absence of such typical MIS-C manifestations as rash, scleral changes and swelling of the extremities, could be symptoms allowing a surgeon to think about conservative management of a patient with acute abdominal syndrome. MIS-C associated with SARS-Cov-2 should be included in clinical protocol guiding management of acute appendicitis in children.

Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19: a single center experience in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new concern emerging as a severe presentation of COVID-19 in children. We aimed to describe the characteristics and short-term outcomes of children diagnosed with MIS-C. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 24 patients who were diagnosed with MIS-C between June 1, 2020 and December 1, 2020. A total of 24 (14 male and 10 female) patients were included in the study. RESULTS: The median age at the diagnosis was 111 (10-180) months. A total of 17 patients had a history of contact with a patient with COVID-19. Among the 24 patients, the most common findings were gastrointestinal involvement (n=20), followed by conjunctivitis (n=12), erythematous rash (n=11), and oral changes (n=10). Cardiovascular involvement was detected in 12 patients, of whom six had systolic dysfunction, four had mild coronary artery involvement, four had pericardial effusion, and three had mitral insufficiency. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin, and 14 patients were treated with methylprednisolone in addition. Anti-interleukin-1 was given to two patients. The median duration of hospitalization was 8 (5-15) days. A total of 23 patients were discharged and evaluated on the median of 68.5 (52-140) days after discharge. The remaining one patient with dilated cardiomyopathy died after 2 months in the intensive care unit. CONCLUSION: Increasing the knowledge on MIS-C will provide clinicians with information on early recognition, evaluation, and management of these patients.