More than 150 children in California have been diagnosed with a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) related to coronavirus throughout the pandemic.
The state Department of Public Health reported that as of December 14, at least 152 children have been diagnosed with MIS-C, a rare and sometimes fatal inflammatory disease that scientists believe can infect children who have been exposed to coronavirus.
Experts say that MIS-C appears directly related to increases in COVID-19 cases, The Los Angeles Times reported months. registered status seven new MIS-C diagnoses in the week of December 7-14.
MIS-C causes similar reactions to Kawasaki disease with organs and tissues such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, digestive system, brain, skin or eyes becoming inflamed, according to Mayo Clinic.
Many children diagnosed with MIS-C have a positive coronavirus antibody test result, which means they have come in contact with someone infected with COVID-19. Symptoms of the syndrome include fever, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, red lips, bloodshot eyes and exhaustion.
In all the country, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified 1,288 cases of MIS-C, which resulted in the deaths of at least 23 children as of December 4. A Los Angeles Times analysis found that the number of cases rose by more than 125 percent in July.
The CDC has instructed health care providers to reports cases of MIS-C in an emergency notice in May.
Early data for MIS-C determined that, like COVID-19, the syndrome disproportionately affected black and Latino children. The CDC reports that 40 percent of cases diagnosed with MIS-C occur among Latin American children, 36 percent among black children, and 15 percent among white children.
Of the 49 MIS-C cases identified in Los Angeles County, 73 percent of cases have occurred among Latino children since Friday. All 49 children who confirmed they had MIS-C were hospitalized.
The Mayo Clinic notes that studies are needed to determine why black and Latino children have been diagnosed more in the United States and whether this refers to lack of access to health care.
Los Angeles County reported a MIS-C death this month without identifying the child, who officials said had a “complex, pre-existing heart condition,” according to the Times. California does not distinguish MIS-C deaths from COVID-19 deaths and has documented three coronavirus deaths among children 17 years of age or younger.