What Is Coronavirus Inflammatory Syndrome? New York Mayor Confirms 50+ Cases Of Mysterious, Potentially Fatal Illness In Children

New York City health officials are worried about the increasing cases of coronavirus inflammatory syndrome in children, which is a potentially fatal condition resulting in organ failure.

So far, New York alone has confirmed about 52 cases of the pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome. Out of these, 25 children are COVID-19 positive, while 22 have antibodies against coronavirus. That means, 22 children previously had coronavirus but recovered. Almost 10 cases are still pending for further testing.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday, May 12, that the New York City health officials are worried over the increasing number of mysterious and potentially fatal illnesses in children.

“This was not something that the health-care community saw on their radar, and then in the last week or two, suddenly, we’re seeing something that’s very troubling,” he said during the press briefing.

Public health experts across the world have had an understanding so far that the COVID-19 pandemic may not make children severely-ill. However, their belief has been challenged by a recent surge in the number of cases of this rare inflammatory syndrome in children, most of which have or had COVID-19.

Children with coronavirus inflammatory syndrome have been reported with symptoms such as prolonged fever, swollen hands and feet, abdominal pain and bright red lips. Parents have been advised to call emergency and rush their children to the hospital for inpatient treatment if they see any of these or a combination of these symptoms.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo previously said that 73 cases of severely-ill children have been reported in the city so far. A 5-year-old boy in New York City died from the mysterious with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome.

Mostly, the syndrome has been reported in children aged between five and nine. The inflammatory syndrome seems similar to Kawasaki disease, which is a rare syndrome in children causing bouts of high fever and inflammation in the blood vessels.