CDC issues alert to doctors on rare coronavirus-related ‘mystery illness’ in kids

The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued on Thursday an alert for a “mystery illness” in kids that is associated with coronavirus.

The illness, which the CDC calls “multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children,” or MIS-C, has been reported in at least 19 states and Washington, D.C. as well as in the UK.

It was previously referred to as Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.

Symptoms for the illness include prolonged fever, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, bloodshot eyes, and skin rash, among others, according to a release from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office.

“It is currently unknown if multisystem inflammatory syndrome is specific to children or if it also occurs in adults,” the CDC alert said.

At least 110 cases have been reported in New York, and three young people — aged between 5, 7 and 18 — have died. New Jersey reported at least 17 cases, while California has six. Other states, such as Connecticut, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, and Washington, have reported small numbers of cases.

Therefore, CDC said it requesting healthcare providers who have cared for or are caring for patients younger than 21 and meet the MIS-C criteria to report the suspected cases to their local and health departments.