Wisconsin Child Under 10 Dies Of Rare Condition Associated With COVID-19

WISCONSIN — One Wisconsin child has died of multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a condition associated with COVID-19, the Department of Health Services announced Friday.

The child lived in southeast Wisconsin and was under 10 years old, state health services said. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C, is a rare but serious condition and 183 cases have been reported in Wisconsin since the start of the pandemic.

MIS causes parts of the body to become inflamed and can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, brains and other organs, health services said. Symptoms include but aren't limited to lingering fever, trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion and children with symptoms should be taken to an emergency room immediately.

“We are saddened to report that a child has passed away from MIS-C,” State Health Officer Paula Tran said in a statement. “Although COVID-19 cases are declining throughout the state, we are still seeing very high levels of disease transmission in all 72 counties. As COVID-19 continues to cause illness, hospitalizations, and death in our communities, we urge all Wisconsinites to take steps to protect themselves against COVID-19.”

More and more children have been admitted to Wisconsin hospitals for the syndrome, pediatric infectious diseases expert Dr. Joseph McBride told Patch.

Doctors had good treatments for the condition, but it's "no less scary" for providers, parents and children, McBride added.

Health experts agree the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is getting everyone ages 5 and older vaccinated against the disease.