Study Shows Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) are Resolved Quickly

Aug, 2021 - By WMR

A new study conducted by a team of researchers from Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University shows that kids hospitalized with multisystem inflammatory syndrome recovered within a few months.

MIS-C is a condition where different body parts such as the heart, lungs, kidney, brain, and others can become inflamed. This condition is triggered by SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 is responsible for a spectrum of illness in children. In the U.S., some children had mild COVID-19 symptoms while some were asymptomatic initially but later developed non-respiratory symptoms such as skin rashes, heart abnormalities, low blood pressure, and others. A small number of children with MIS-C became severely ill and required hospitalization. The researchers in this study reveals that those hospitalized kids with severe heart and immunologic manifestations with MIS-C recovered quickly. In this context, it is important to note that the first cases of MIS-C were reported in the U.S. in spring 2020. The researchers studied 45 children with median age 9 years old who were admitted to the intensive care unit in critical conditions. It is important to note that around 23 children had moderate to severe cardiac abnormalities such as coronary artery dilation. Moreover, the researchers noted that there was a temporary reduction in white blood cells in 30 children. They also noted that most of the children experienced an increase in inflammatory markers while 50% had higher cardiac-specific markers that show heart injury. These children were treated with steroids and other therapeutics for MIS-C. Majority of these children responded to the treatment. The researchers observed that within few weeks of discharge from the hospital immunologic abnormalities and markers for heart injury became normal in the children.

In a nutshell, the team of researchers suggested that these children should be kept under close observation and if they complain about any nonspecific cardiac symptoms such as chest pain and others, parents should consult a cardiologist or a pediatrician.