Now Playing
Fort Worth pediatricians say they have treated four local children for what they believe is the mysterious inflammatory illness related to COVID-19. Since May 9, four patients have been treated at Cook Children’s Medical Center for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C). The children range in age from 6 to 14. Kawasaki disease is an illness that creates inflammation in blood vessels with no proven cause, but is generally thought to follow various infections after they have otherwise resolved. The American Heart Association said physicians around the world have recently noted that a small number of children exposed to COVID-19 have an emerging condition with features overlapping toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease, together with cardiac inflammation. In the more severe cases, evidence of multi-organ dysfunction, including respiratory distress, low blood pressures, liver and kidney damage and altered mental status were also seen. In addition to the recent appearance of MIS-C cases, the infectious diseases team at Cook Children’s is also looking closely at increased reports of unexplained fevers in North Texas. Symptoms of more severe MIS-C cases include severe abdominal pain, shock from low blood pressure, respiratory distress and lethargy. If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately. Less severe symptoms include fever, abdominal pain and rash. Parents should call their pediatrician if these symptoms appear.
