‘Several’ possible cases of COVID-19 pediatric disorder being monitored, state says

Published 3:51 pm Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Mississippi’s top health officer said Monday a child suffering from an unusual medical condition related to a prior infections with the COVID-19 coronavirus has recovered and been discharged from the hospital, but additional possible cases are being monitored.

Dr. Thomas Dobbs, state health officer with the Mississippi State Department of Health, confirmed the first case and said possible additional cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, MIS-C, are under review.

Dobbs said the first case was a boy from central Mississippi.

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“He has recovered and discharged from the hospital,” Dobbs said. “The kid will get fantastic medical care going forward.

“We do have several others that we’re monitoring and are possible cases so I expect to see more over the coming weeks.”

The unusual condition that has begun to pop up in children is similar to Kawasaki disease. That disorder can cause fever, inflammation of the mouth and swelling of the eyes, hands and feet.

Experts say approximately one-quarter of children with Kawasaki disease wind up with inflammation in the circulatory system feeding the heart, which can cause serious illness.

The unusual condition related to COVID-19 has some similarities.

The condition seems to primarily affect children less than 5 years old, Dobbs said.