Sixty-four children in New York state have been hospitalized with a rare, life-threatening inflammatory illness linked to the coronavirus, a new state Health Department report released Wednesday reveals.
Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker issued an alert to medical providers regarding the “potential association” between “multi-syndrome inflammatory syndrome” — or Kawasaki disease — and COVID-19.
“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, including New York City,” the advisory said.
The alert said a majority of patients with the inflammatory syndrome have tested positive for COVID-19 or COVID-fighting antibodies.
The state directive said hospitals must immediately report cases of pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome or Kawasaki disease to the Health Department and immediately perform tests for COVID-19 on patients.
Kawasaki disease and multi-inflammatory syndrome are rare childhood illnesses that cause the walls of blood vessels in the body to become inflamed. Symptoms include high temperature that lasts for five days or longer, redness in the eyes, rashes and swollen glands in the neck.
Children younger than 5 are most at risk.
The state health advisory said while older adults are at risk for severe COVID-19 illness, children can still get sick, though they rarely become severely ill.
“Early recognition by pediatricians and prompt referral to an in-patient specialist, including to critical care is essential,” the alert said.
The New York City Heath Department issued its own health alert Monday night after reporting that four of 15 kids between the ages of 2 and 15 who had symptoms of Kawasaki disease also tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We haven’t seen any fatalities yet, but we are very concerned by what we’re seeing. We’re learning more every day about how COVID-19 affects the body. This is a ferocious disease,” Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Tuesday.
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May 07, 2020 at 01:26AM
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64 NY kids have rare inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus - New York Post
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