MILWAUKEE — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing a nationwide alert to doctors about a rare inflammatory conditions linked to COVID-19 in children. Pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome or PMIS as it is now being called has been found in more than 100 children than 100 in more than 14 states across the country.
“It’s new, it’s novel. It is something we are still learning a lot about and frankly we are still learning a lot about COVID in general,” said Dr. Ben Weston of the Milwaukee County Health Department.
It is so new the CDC said they are still working on coming up with a standard definition of this illness. They are investigating a link between PMIS and children who have been exposed to COVID-19.
It first appeared in Europe, then in New York. Now there are cases in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Washington, D.C.
“It is constellation of symptoms that are seen in children. The constellation includes fever, a prolonged fever of five days or more. Red eye changes, changes to the mouth, rash, swelling to the hands and feet,” said Dr. Margaret Hennessy of Ascension All Saints.
The symptoms also include severe abdominal pain and falling blood pressure according to doctors who have treated patients.
Hennessy said this is rare syndrome and there have been no known cases in Wisconsin.
Now, the CDC is tracking cases across the country. The American Heart Association has also put out a warning saying its symptoms appears to be similar to Kawasaki Disease, an inflammatory disease that leads to heart problems. Some children like, Jayden Hardowar, who has since recovered from the illness, went into cardiac arrest.
“I think realistically with so many viral illnesses you can start off with a fever for a couple days. I think what is very important is if the fever is persistent for more than three days, you ought to call the doctor,” said Hennessy.