Syndrome linked to COVID-19 seems more common among children of African ancestry
Condition is rare but findings should prompt high vigilance, say
researchers

Date:
June 3, 2020
Source:
BMJ
Summary:
An inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents, believed to
be linked to covid-19, seems to be more common among children of
African ancestry, finds a small study from a hospital in Paris.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents, believed to be
linked to covid-19, seems to be more common among children of African
ancestry, finds a small study from a hospital in Paris, published by
The BMJ today.


==========================================================================
The syndrome has been compared with Kawasaki disease, a rare condition
which mainly affects children under five. Experts have said that it may
be an "antibody mediated or delayed response" to covid-19 that happens
several weeks after infection.

Cases have also been seen in Italy, the UK and the US.

In this study, patients had characteristics that differ from those with
classic Kawasaki disease. For example, an unusually high proportion
had gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, often with vomiting and diarrhoea), unstable blood pressure, and inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis).

The researchers say further studies are needed, but these findings
"should prompt high vigilance" among doctors, particularly in countries
with a high proportion of children of African ancestry.

They describe 21 children and adolescents (average age 7.9 years) with
features of Kawasaki disease who were admitted to a hospital in Paris
between 27 April and 11 May 2020. Over half of the children (12; 57%)
were of African ancestry.



========================================================================== Twelve children presented with Kawasaki disease shock syndrome and 16
(76%) with myocarditis. Nineteen (90%) had evidence of recent covid-19 infection.

All 21 patients had noticeable gastrointestinal symptoms during the
early stage of illness and high levels of inflammatory markers in their bloodstream.

Despite 17 patients (81%) needing intensive care support, all patients
were discharged home by 15 May 2020, after an average of 8 days in
hospital, with no serious complications.

The researchers point to some limitations, such as the small number
of patients, and stress that this is an observational study, so can't
establish a causal link with covid-19 infection.

Nevertheless, they say this Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory
syndrome seems to be more common in children of African ancestry,
suggesting an effect of either social and living conditions or genetic susceptibility, and shows different clinical symptoms to classic Kawasaki disease.

"These clinical findings should prompt high vigilance among primary care
and emergency doctors, and preparedness during the coronavirus disease
2019 pandemic in countries with a high proportion of children of African ancestry and high levels of community transmission," they conclude.

The researchers have added an important layer to the growing knowledge
of this disorder, strengthening the connection between covid-19 infection
and this condition, says Mary Beth Son at Boston Children's Hospital, in
a linked editorial. She stresses that this condition is so far rare but potentially severe, and warrants surveillance as well as collaborative research.

It seems highly likely that more reports will appear from around the
globe, she warns, but says the rapid release of publications such as this,
"is the first step in this critical process."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by BMJ. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. Julie Toubiana, Cle'ment Poirault, Alice Corsia, Fanny Bajolle,
Jacques
Fourgeaud, Franc,ois Angoulvant, Agathe Debray, Romain
Basmaci, Elodie Salvador, Sandra Biscardi, Pierre Frange,
Martin Chalumeau, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Je're'mie F Cohen,
Slimane Allali. Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome in
children during the covid-19 pandemic in Paris, France: prospective
observational study. BMJ, 2020; m2094 DOI: 10.1136/ bmj.m2094
2. Mary Beth F Son. Pediatric inflammatory syndrome temporally
related to
covid-19. BMJ, 2020; m2123 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m2123 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603110242.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/06/200603110242.htm

--- up 19 weeks, 1 day, 3 hours, 31 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)