New York announces deaths of children from illness linked to COVID-19
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Three New York children have died from a serious illness that may be related to COVID-19, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced. The illness has symptoms that resemble Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome.
As of Sunday, New York said it was investigating 85 reported cases of the illness that is being referred to as “pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19.” Cuomo said the children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, or were found to have antibodies specific to the virus, but presented with different symptoms.
“It’s not a respiratory illness. They are not in respiratory distress, and I think that’s why this may be getting discovered this far into the process,” he said.
Cases have been reported in several other countries, and in numerous other places in the United States. According to the New York State Department of Health, symptoms include elevated inflammatory markers, fever, abdominal symptoms, rash, myocarditis and other cardiovascular changes.
“This is the last thing we need at this time with all that’s going on, with all the anxiety we have,” Cuomo said Saturday during a press conference. “We still have a lot to learn about this virus, and every day is another eye-opening situation.”
Cuomo announced that the CDC has asked New York to develop a national criteria for the illness, so that other states and hospital systems can check for it.
“This is new and it’s developing,” he said.
Cuomo noted that, until now, the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 had appeared to be less severe in children than adults.
“We were laboring under the impression that young people were not affected by COVID-19,” he said. “That was actually good news. One of the few rays of good news was that young people were not affected. We are not so sure that that is a fact anymore.” – by Ken Downey Jr.
Disclosure: Cuomo reports no relevant financial disclosures.
Perspective
Back to TopAudrey R. Odom John, MD, PhD
The recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in humans and resulting pandemic of COVID-19 disease is an ongoing global health crisis. One of the most unique features of this disease is its relatively benign course in pediatric populations in contrast to many other respiratory viral infections that disproportionately affect the young. However, a recent report from London now describes a life-threatening hyperinflammatory state in previously healthy children, which appears to be a postinfectious complication of COVID-19. Media reports suggest this syndrome has also been observed across Europe and North America. Prominent findings include fever and severe myocardial dysfunction. Additional symptoms are more variable but include abdominal pain/diarrhea, rash, conjunctivitis, and mucosal changes, which are highly suggestive of Kawasaki disease and/or toxic shock. Although this multisystem inflammatory syndrome appears to respond readily to IV immunoglobulin, there is an urgent need for studies to define the incidence of and risk factors for this condition and to confirm the causative link to preceding SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Reference: Riphagen S, et al. Lancet. 2020.doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31094-1.
Disclosure: Odom John reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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