Pediatricians warn of rare spike in MIS-C syndrome

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) – Vanderbilt’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in Nashville has seen 82 cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) since the start of the pandemic with nearly 25% of cases in September .

MIS-C has only been studied for a little over a year because it is caused by COVID-19.

Vanderbilt children’s pediatrician, Dr Sophie Katz, explained, “It happens three to four weeks after someone is exposed to COVID. So, because COVID infections have increased in our region over the past few months, especially with the delta variant, we have seen a huge increase in MIS-C over the past month. “

As of October 7, the hospital had seen 82 cases of MIS-C since the start of the pandemic, with 20 cases in September alone. Statewide, as of October 5, there were 156 cases of the syndrome.

“I wouldn’t blame going back to school if people return to school safely, like using hand hygiene and wearing masks, so it’s mostly just that they’re getting COVID in the community.” Katz said.

Not all children diagnosed with MIS-C have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Katz said they simply had COVID and didn’t know it.

Katsz’s fear? Cases will continue to increase in the rare disease as the fall progresses due to the higher number of COVID cases in children.

She said symptoms of the syndrome include a “fever that lasts three days or more, as well as abdominal pain or vomiting or diarrhea, fatigue, people get really, really tired, a kind of red mottled rash. is the rash we usually see. And anything new or different with fever. “

Claire Kopsky

Although Katz said most children recover in hospital within days, “What concerns us the most is the heart attack. That’s why we really admit people and try to treat them quickly to avoid heart dysfunction.”

Regarding prevention, she said the best thing for families to do is practice COVID safety: wash your hands and practice social distancing when it’s not masked.

“I think as parents we all want to do whatever we can to protect our children and if we can protect them from something as serious as MIS-C then I would do it 100%”, Katz explained. “So getting vaccinated and sort of creating a cocoon around children who are not yet of age for vaccines is a great way to prevent that from happening.”

To read the latest CDC news on MIS-C, click here.