PEDIATRIC MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME POTENTIALLY
ASSOCIATED WITH CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) IN CHILDREN
May 12, 2020 12pm
Please Distribute to Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Planning, Primary Care, Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Infection Control, and college health offices.
Background:
As of May 5, 2020, sixty-four (64) suspected pediatric clinical cases compatible with multi-system inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 have been reported in children in New York State hospitals.
Hospitals must immediately report cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19 in patients who are less than 21 years of age to NYSDOH through the Health Emergency Response Data System (HERDS) application on the Health Commerce System (HCS) and perform a diagnostic and serological test to detect the presence of SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or corresponding antibodies in the patient.
This syndrome has features which overlap with Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock Syndrome. Inflammatory markers may be elevated, and fever and abdominal symptoms may be prominent. Rash also may be present. Myocarditis and other cardiovascular changes may be seen. Additionally, some patients have developed cardiogenic or vasogenic shock and required intensive care. This inflammatory syndrome may occur days to weeks after acute COVID-19 illness.
This syndrome should be considered by pediatricians and specialists, particularly when other microbial etiologies have not been identified.
Pediatricians and specialists should elicit any recent history of illness with COVID-19 or close contact with individuals who are known to have COVID-19
For questions about HERDS, providers can send an e-mail to hospinfo@health.ny.gov.
For other questions, providers can contact the Dutchess County Communicable Disease Control at (845) 486-3402 (m-f, 9-5) or (845) 431-6465 (after hours).
