I am trying to raise awareness around this very little-known life-threatening condition. MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory System in Children), also known as PIMS-TS (Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome), is an inflammatory condition triggered by Covid 19, usually presenting four-six weeks after having the virus. The state is an overreactive immune response to Covid, causing serious inflammation throughout the body, regarded rare and life-threatening.
As a parent, trying to stay optimistic while watching this monster uproar inside your child’s body is one of the cruelest things.
This MIS-C, by far, is the scariest thing we have dealt with. I am not sure how many other parents may have gone through this or know about it. But we learned this was a thing on Thursday, December 9, 2021. We understood that it is a dangerous condition that damages healthy tissues and vital organs. There is little data on its long-term consequences, so there is no point in searching through the internet for in-depth information. For now, I want to believe that everything will be okay, and I understand this will be a long journey before my child’s body reaches normalcy.
With the understanding that not many parents may not be aware of this fairly new health condition that imitates Kawasaki disease, I would like to insist that if one doesn’t race for action, any child will be on the brink of their life in a matter of days.
We are currently in good hands and care; Sutter PICU at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, has the best pediatricians, pediatric specialists, intensivists, nurses, physical therapists, specialty children’s mental wellness care teams, and hospital staff who genuinely care.
Doctors Craig Swanson, Blumberg, Yimer, Omar Rodriguez, Nurses Michelle L Smith, Jennifer, Pat, Courtney N Erickson, Meredith M Pesquera, Sierra, Emily, and many others who cared for my child to whom we’ll forever be grateful
Health care workers, in general, are heroes and those in PICU and ICUs are God-like. My son is back on his feet, but MIS-C has left him extremely weak. He communicates through hand gestures and needs to retrain his adaptive life skills from the beginning. However, I strongly believe that my son, Sri, will get better soon.
We all know life is uncertain, and we ought to make the best every day. With MIS-C, the uncertainty comes into play in a matter of days, and one’s life changes for either good or bad at any time.
Please spread the word of caution and the importance of getting your children vaccinated to minimize the damage done to their little bodies.
Please don’t believe the non-believers who say you are safe with the new variant, and it is so mild, and we as parents don’t have to worry about MIS-C in general!!! Trust me, COVID is real, and MIS-C is cruel.
Education and awareness can go a long way in protecting your children and loved ones. MIS-C spares none; the categorization of healthy, unhealthy, young, and old doesn’t measure, and it doesn’t count.
Mis-C comes out of the left field and will knock anyone down.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: What is MIS-C?
The syndrome is an inflammatory response in the body about four to six weeks after infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The initial symptoms often include fever, rashes, red eyes, diarrhea, and vomiting and may worsen over a few days. The inflammation can affect the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, making some children very ill and need emergency hospitalization and care.
MIS-C Symptoms
Call your family doctor or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a persistent fever of 100.4 or more lasting more than three or four days, or if your child has a fever and any of these symptoms:
- Feeling unusually weak or dizzy
- Red eyes
- Rash (red spots, scars, or bumps)
- Significant or worsening abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
- Acting exceptionally sleepy or confused
Even though there is not much knowledge about this condition, here’s what doctors and scientists know so far:
- MIS-C is a rare complication of COVID-19, but it can be dangerous. The symptoms can co-occur with infections and other illnesses.
- MIS-C usually affects school-age children, most commonly 8- and 9-year-olds, but the syndrome also has been seen in infants and young adults.
- MIS-C symptoms appear between two and six weeks (four weeks on average) after COVID-19 infection. Most children with MIS-C have antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
- MIS-C is a treatable condition, and most children recover fully from this illness. With prompt attention, medicines can control the inflammation and help avoid lasting organ damage, especially involving the heart.
- MIS-C Treatment
- “MIS-C is treatable if it is diagnosed right,” doctors use intravenous immunoglobulin and other anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce inflammation to protect the heart, kidneys, and other vital organs from prevailing damage.
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children and COVID-19: What Is the Connection?
MIS-C is triggered by the virus that causes COVID-19. It can surface in children who have not had any common symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, sore throat, or cough.
“Most children with MIS-C will have antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, indicating their body has been infected previously,” Nevertheless, Doctors and researchers are still learning why some children develop this illness after COVID-19 infection but not others.”
MIS-C: Call your Doctor If You Have Concerns
Doctors and researchers are still observing that, compared to adults, most children do not experience severe symptoms associated with COVID-19. However, notify your pediatrician if you are aware that your child had COVID-19 or was around someone else who had COVID-19, and the child developed fevers a few weeks later.
If you have any questions about your child’s health, or if something about your child doesn’t seem quite right, trust your instincts and call your doctor.
