NYC Health Department Warns Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome

The NYC Health Department contacted PICUs between April 29-May 3 and identified 15 patients between the ages of 2-15 who had been hospitalized between April 17-May 1 with symptoms compatible with multi-system inflammatory syndrome. All patients had fevers and more than half reported rashes, abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea. Less than half the patients experienced respiratory symptoms.

When the kids were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for coronavirus, the most common form of testing, four kids tested positive, 10 negative, and one indeterminate then negative. Six patients who tested negative through PCR testing then tested positive through serology, which is antibody testing. More than half of these 15 kids required blood pressure support and five required ventilation, but no deaths have been reported.

Early diagnosis and treatment of this syndrome is key, the Health Department says, and treating Kawasaki disease is critical to prevent organ damage and other long term complications.

Any patient who meets this criteria must be reported to the NYC Health Department through the Provider Access Line (866-692-3641):

• The child is less than 21 years old with persistent fever lasting more than four days, and either incomplete Kawasaki disease, typical Kawasaki disease, and/or TSS
• No alternative causes of these symptoms

Patients should be reported regardless of their coronavirus test result, if they are able to be tested. For more information, visit the Department of Health website, and keep up with coronavirus news in your area so you can adapt as this situation changes.

Author: Jacqueline Neber is an assistant editor and a graduate of The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not focused on writing special needs and education features, you can find her petting someone else’s dog.