May 8, 2020.
There is much about Coronavirus we still don't understand. A disturbing new development is a serious illness affecting children, known as multi-system inflammatory syndrome. The illness is potentially linked with COVID-19, and it has features that are similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Though rare, there have been 73 reported cases in New York, and, tragically, a 5-year-old passed away this past Thursday of the illness. The State Department of Health is investigating.
New Yorkers should seek immediate care if a child has:
- Prolonged fever (more than five days)
- Difficulty feeding (infants) or is too sick to drink fluids
- Severe abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
- Change in skin color - becoming pale, patchy and/or blue
- Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly
- Racing heart or chest pain
- Decreased amount of frequency in urine
- Lethargy, irritability or confusion
Though the syndrome is rare, I nevertheless urge parents to be vigilant.
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