Rare Coronavirus-Related Illness In Children Reaches MA

BOSTON — A rare, mysterious coronavirus-related illness in children has made its way to Massachusetts.

Boston Children's Hospital is among those reporting patients with a pediatric inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19. The illness only came on the radar late last month.

A panel of pediatricians organized by Boston Children's Hospital called the International PICU-COVID-19 Collaboration released a statement last week detailing the illness.

The panel said the illness is rare but cautioned any doctor who suspects a case to speak to a specialist in pediatric infectious disease, rheumatology or critical care. Symptoms begin appearing about six weeks after a child is exposed to COVID-19, a Children's doctor told NBC Boston.

Symptoms may show as a persistent fever, inflammation and organ dysfunction, according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. Click here for more information. Early reports cited features of toxic shock syndrome and incomplete Kawasaki disease, Children's said.

"In some cases, children present with shock, and some have features of Kawasaki disease, whereas others may present with signs of cytokine storm," said Dr. Mary Beth Son, a Children's rheumatologist on the panel. "In some geographic areas, there has been an uptick in Kawasaki disease cases in children who don't have shock."

Treatment, which includes blood thinners, has been effective.

"To date, most children affected have done well," the Children's statement said. "Treatments have included anticoagulation, IV immunoglobulin, IL-1 or IL-6 blockade, and corticosteroids. Some children have only needed supportive care."

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Most United States cases have been confined to the East Coast. CNN reported Wednesday that Children's has two cases, with neither child in intensive care. WBUR reported Children's has treated six patients and Bay State Medical Center in Springfield has had a "few."

In New York, dozens of children have been affected. At least three children, ranging from 5 to 18 years old, have died.

While COVID-19 has targeted the most vulnerable populations, it has largely spared children. The average age of COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts is 53, the average age of hospitalizations caused by the virus is 68, and the average age of fatalities caused by the virus is 82.

Read the Children's group's statement here.