RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Data from the Rio de Janeiro State Health Secretariat (SES) reported this week that at least seven children who contracted the novel coronavirus were diagnosed with Pediatric Multi-Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C), a medical condition considered rare and severe. Three of the recorded cases have led to death.
In all, 22 children in the state were diagnosed with the disease. Of these, seven tested positive for the infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the novel coronavirus. The first cases in Rio de Janeiro were recorded at the start of this month and there was some doubt as to whether the syndrome was related to Covid-19.
The MIS-C is a severe inflammatory reaction that affects children. Over 300 cases have already been recorded in the world, with the first diagnoses made in April this year in England. Among the symptoms are persistent temperature, spotting on the body, and acute gastrointestinal events such as diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
The syndrome has symptoms similar to Kawasaki’s disease. This, in turn, mainly affects children under five years of age and has as one of its main symptoms the onset of long-term coronary aneurysms. Researchers are still trying to determine if the two are connected in any way.
The cases in Rio de Janeiro are not the only ones recorded in Brazil. In Minas Gerais, there were at least six confirmed diagnoses of Pediatric Multi-Systemic Inflammatory Syndrome. Two other people contracted the disease on Friday, August 14th.