Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

August 10, 2020

COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, March–July 2020

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  • Godfred-Cato et al. describe symptoms, treatment, and outcomes for a cohort of 570 pediatric patients with COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIC-S). The median patient age was 8 years; 55% were male, 41% were Hispanic or Latino, 33% were non-Hispanic black, and 13% non-Hispanic white. Although about 2/3 of patients did not report any underlying medical condition, among those who did, obesity was the most common. 
  • In 490 (86%) patients, the illness involved 4 or more organ systems. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, vomiting, skin rash, diarrhea, hypotension, and conjunctival injection. Severe complications were common, with cardiac dysfunction (41%), shock (35%), myocarditis (23%), coronary artery dilatation or aneurysm (19%), and acute kidney injury (18%) among the most prevalent. Ten of the 570 patients (2%) died. 

Godfred-Cato et al. (Aug 7, 2020). COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, March–July 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932e2