In New York, 15 children discovered rare diseases associated with COVID-19: named symptoms

The Department of Health reported 15 severe cases of the disease associated with coronavirus. But a doctor familiar with this disease believes that there are many more patients. The publication shared the details NBC News.

To date, the Department of Health has identified more than a dozen children in New York City hospitals with a rare disease associated with COVID-19. But one doctor who is familiar with the disease believes that specialists recognize only severe cases. He believes that there are many more patients.

What is this disease

This is the so-called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (with the English multi-syndrome inflammatory syndrome). Now it is observed in 15 children in New York hospitalized from April 17 to May 1. This was stated by Dr. Demetre Daskalakis (Demetre Daskalakis), a representative of the Department of Health.

According to Daskalakis, despite the fact that the full spectrum of the disease is not yet known, patients aged 2 to 15 years showed signs of Kawasaki disease and toxic shock, as well as daytime fevers and inflammation.

Four out of 15 children had positive tests for coronavirus, six had antibodies for the virus, which indicates that they had an infection earlier.

At this point, the health department can only recognize severe cases. But one doctor familiar with the disease thinks there will be many more. “This is happening across Europe,” said Dr. Jane Newburger, director of the Kawasaki program at Boston Children's Hospital. "It definitely happens in different cities on the east coast and in parts of the Midwest."

Newburger said the disease could occur as a "post-immune response to COVID." This means that the body continues to fight the disease that is no longer attacking the body - perhaps even weeks after the infection has occurred.

Fortunately, no deaths were reported among New York patients. On May 5, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio wrote on Twitter that while there were no child deaths in the city, authorities are worried about what they see.

He noted that every day the city learns more and more about how the virus affects the human body. And he said he would require medical professionals to report if such symptoms are observed in people under the age of 21.

How to identify symptoms at an early stage

So, what are the symptoms of childhood multisystem inflammatory syndrome?

The New York City Department of Health reported that all 15 children had a fever, and more than half reported having a rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Although this was considered a direct symptom of COVID-19, less than half of these patients suffered from shortness of breath.

The Mount Sinai Medical Complex confirmed that they are observing new and unusual diseases associated with COVID-19. In a statement, Dr. George Ofori, director of emergency pediatric care at Mount Sinai Children's Hospital, warned parents of possible symptoms. He said that some of the patients who received treatment for them experienced abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. In other cases, a rash, conjunctivitis, and / or chapped lips first appeared. Some patients had heart problems and low blood pressure, which led to a shock condition. He noted that some of these children were diagnosed with COVID-19 2-3 ​​weeks before the onset of symptoms.

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He noted that it is not yet known whether this condition is related to COVID-19. “While it is too early to be definitive about what is causing this, we believe it is important to alert the public to what we see,” he said.

Another source said that some of these children had no previous illnesses.

The Mount Sinai statement came two days after a colleague of Dr. Ofori at Cohen's Children's Hospital on Long Island told I-Team in an interview that they had seen about a dozen critically ill children in recent weeks with similar inflammatory symptoms. “There are currently at least 12 patients in our hospital presenting a similar picture, which we believe has something to do with the infection (COVID-19 - Ed.),” Said Dr. James Schneider. , Director of Children's Emergency Services at Stephen and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center in Nassau. "This is what we are starting to see across the country."

What to do if you find symptoms

Any child with symptoms associated with Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome should be shown to a doctor as soon as possible. The Department of Health emphasized that it is imperative to recognize the disease at an early stage. Moreover, in some cases, the patient may require resuscitation and intensive care. A quick start to treatment can help prevent damage to the terminal organs and other long-term problems, Daskalakis said.

Dr. Newburger suggests that parents who find a child have a high fever, which at the same time “seems unhealthy,” call a pediatrician and seek medical help.

Almost tragic case

Cohen is one of several local hospitals where doctors report children presenting with conditions similar to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, an autoimmune disease that can be triggered by a viral infection and, if left untreated quickly, can lead to life-threatening arterial damage. and hearts.

Patients at Cohen's Children's Hospital include 8-year-old Jaden Hardovar. When he was admitted to the hospital, he appeared to be healthy, before one evening he suddenly went into cardiac arrest.

At the end of April, Jaden began to have fever and bouts of diarrhea. Parents took him to a pediatrician, and soon after treatment with Tylenol, his condition improved. After a few days, his temperature dropped. The child did not have shortness of breath.

Jaden's father, Roop, said they weren't too worried as they thought it might be due to diarrhea. The boy's mother added that she noticed, sitting by her son's bed, how his arms and head were twisted in an unusual manner - then she realized that everything was bad. “I quickly looked at his face and his lips were blue at that moment, so immediately I knew that something was wrong with Jaden,” Navita Hardouar said. She started calling him by name, but he did not answer. The boy's brother and father received artificial respiration and was soon taken to Jamaica Hospital and then to Cohen Children's Hospital in Nassau County.

In just five days, Jaden turned from a healthy and active boy into a patient, able to breathe only with the help of a special apparatus.

Jaden's father says he still does not know where the child could have been infected. “None of us - six in the house: two adults, four children - none of us were sick. We all practiced social distancing diligently ... we thought we were safe, ”he said.

Fortunately, Jaden recovered and was removed from the ventilator on the weekend, three days after he was taken to hospital. His parents hope that they will be able to take their son home soon.

COVID does not spare anyone

“It just goes to show that no age group is spared from COVID and can lead to very serious illnesses, even in children,” said Dr. Schneider.

Scott Gotlieb, a former FDA chief and emergency physician in New York City, repeated these words when appearing on CNBC. He stated that the new cases seem to refute the earlier notion that coronavirus "does not really affect children." “Of course, we know that there are children who were hospitalized, who were very sick. But now it seems that there are some unusual syndromes that develop in children, possibly as a result of the coronavirus, ”Gottlieb told CNBC.