Kawasaki-Like Illness Linked to COVID-19 Now Affects Teens, Including the Heart and Other Organs

A rare inflammatory syndrome that is closely linked to the coronavirus has now an increasing amount of affected children. At the same time, a number of doctors have noted that this emerging disorder is similar to an illness that was discovered in Japan called 'Kawasaki Disease'. 

According to the Washington Post, children have been hospitalized with symptoms like inflammation of multiple organs, skin rash, abdominal pain, and bloodshot eyes. This so-called hyper response of organs affects the heart and when there's swelling in this area then it's highly dangerous. 

The report mentioned that more than 140 children are suffering from this condition now called MIS-C or multisystem inflammatory syndrome. It may be a sporadic illness but four children have already succumbed to their deathbed in recent weeks.

In the case of children, the symptoms are a resemblance of Kawasaki Disease, but for teens and young adults there is a mind-boggling involvement of the heart and other organs. 

Unlike COVID-19, MISC-C is not a respiratory disease. The inflammation damages the heart's arteries which will ultimately lead to a coronary aneurysm. 

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One of the pediatric doctors at NYU Langone, Jennifer Langone mentioned in the report that "the older ones have a severe course." 

However, it has been a demanding task for medical practitioners who treat young adults and teens. Jane Burns from Kawasaki Disease Research Center at the University of California is a bit perplexed especially as most of those in practice today have never been exposed to Kawasaki Disease. In spite of this, she and her co-workers are busy tying-up with a children's specialist hospital to screen suspected patients. 

Burns is just one of the many growing numbers of doctors who are looking at the relationship between COVID-19 and Kawasaki Syndrome. The cases of COVID-19 are slowly declining in the city of New York but hospitals in the area have recorded a sudden upswing in the numbers of children and adults with inflammatory conditions. 

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There are already 20 states in America that have reported cases with New York City having 157 cases under investigation. 

"We're all desperately hoping it slows down soon. It would be unheard of during ordinary times for someone in his position to be overwhelmed with cases, but that's exactly what's happening right now," Dr. Rajiv Verma was quoted in the report from NBC News 4.

"I have talked to at least two teenagers who are scared that they're going to die. I don't lie to them. I tell them this is a very serious illness but we'll do our best to keep them alive," he added.

Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, a 14-year-old boy was also reported to have died to the disease linked to COVID-19. The said teenager belongs to the same group of cases that were treated at the Evelina London Children's Hospital during the month of April.

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