Clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic manifestations of COVID-19 multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in the Dominican Republic

ABSTRACT

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread globally and millions of infections have occurred. As cases mount, atypical manifestations of COVID-19 and post-infectious complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) become more likely. MIS-C is a life threatening post-infectious complication of COVID-19. There is a paucity of data of MIS-C in the Dominican Republic (DR). We seek to understand the clinical manifestations of MISC-C in the DR. Methods. This is a retrospective review of cases admitted to a pediatric hospital in the Dominican Republic from March 2020 to December 2021. Patients with clinical findings and a diagnosis of MIS-C were included. Echocardiographic (Echo) and electrocardiographic (ECG) changes were reviewed. Results. A total of 16 patients were included in our study, of which 68.75 were male. Ages were 12.5% < 1 years old, 12.5% between 1-4, 62.5% 5-12 and 12.5% over 12. Fever and rash were the most common clinical findings (Figure 1), while 69% had a new abnormality on echo and 50% had new ECG abnormalities. Echocardiographic findings are listed in Figure 2. Clinical findings in patients admitted with MIS-C Echo findings ECG findings Conclusion. The clinical manifestation of MIS-C are primarily fever, conjunctivitis, rash and hypotension. Because these findings can be non-specific, a high level of suspicion is needed. With over two thirds of patients with MIS-C showing echocardiographic changes and more than 50% showing ECG changes, these two tests can add significant diagnostic value in the right clinical setting. Clinicians should consider early echocardiography and ECG in patients with possible or suspected MIS-C.