Complications of COVID-19 in Children: PIMS-TS/MIS-C

Summary

The outbreak of a new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, appears to be the greatest medical challenge of the last decade. In adult patients, COVID-19 affects the lungs in particular, manifesting in the form of interstitial pneumonitis (NSIP) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). According to available data, COVID-19 in children is less common and has a milder course, often in the form of asymptomatic carriage or with digestive problems only.

It is very likely that the occurrence of the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 in this age group is underestimated. Currently, it is estimated to range from 0.9 to 12 percent in the paediatric population. The latest data on new mutations of the virus suggest its new “peculiarities”. It has turned out that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is becoming more infectious, from the summer months there has been a growing incidence of the disease in children and, moreover, there are more and more cases when it causes damage to various organs, including the brain. Temporal association with the COVID-19 infection reveals new units: paediatric multisystem inflammatory system temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS / MIS-C / Kawa-COVID-19) – a systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, similar to the Kawasaki disease or the Kawasaki shock syndrome, with sudden onset of cardiogenic and circulatory shock. Symptoms of Kawa-COVID-19 occur in paediatric patients approximately 2 – 4 weeks after recovery from SARS-CoV-2 and the most common complication occurring in 50% cases is myocarditis. Development of vasculitis may also lead to aneurysms and other cardiovascular complications. Much depends on the stage of the disease in which the child is admitted to the hospital, as well as on how fast the treatment is initiated. The objective of this article is to draw the attention of the expert public to the previously mentioned risks and to prevent potential cardiovascular complications.

Key words: COVID-19, children, cardiovascular complications, Kawa-COVID-19, Kawasaki disease, multisystem inflammatory sy associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C), pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), SARS-CoV-2, inflammatory syndrome, treatment.

Lek Obz, 2022, 71 (3): 116-121

Oleksandr Dobrovanov 1,2, Karol Králinský 3,4

1 A. Getlik Clinic for Children and Adolescents of Slovak Medical University and University Hospital, Bratislava, head doc. MUDr. K. Furková, CSc.
2 Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, head prof. MUDr. P. Šimko, CSc.
3 Second Children’s Clinic of Slovak Medical University, Children’s Department Hospital and Policlinic, Banská Bystrica, head prof. MUDr. K. Kralinsky, PhD.
4 Health Care Department of Slovak Medical University, Banská Bystrica, head doc. PhDr. Bc. B. Frčová, PhD., MPH
Citácia:
Dobrovanov O., Králinský K.: Komplikácie COVID-19 u detí: PIMS-TS/MISC-C. Lek Obz, 2022, 71 (3): 116-121

Cite:

Dobrovanov O., Králinský K.: Complications of COVID-19 in Children: PIMS-TS/MIS-C.Lek Obz, 2022, 71 (3): 116-121