UNC Health Experts: New Illness in Children Likely a Reaction to COVID-19

As medical experts continue to learn more about the coronavirus, they’re studying its effects on children. While the illness typically produces weaker symptoms compared to older patients, it’s believed the virus is causing a new reaction in some kids.

Dr. Eveline Wu works for UNC Health as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology. She says while there have been many children who have tested positive for COVID-19, only three have been hospitalized at the UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill from the virus.

But Wu, who is an expert in primary immunodeficiencies, says there’s a new illness on doctors’ radars.

“There have been increasing reports of children presented with what is now being called this pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome,” she says.

The illness inflames multiple organ systems. Common symptoms are fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and drops in blood pressure. Similar inflammatory illnesses can cause rashes, swollen glands and further heart issues.

Wu says such symptoms and sickness have been seen before, but there are indications causing medical experts to believe this sickness is tied to the novel coronavirus. Many cases are coming from regions experiencing major outbreaks.

“We’re seeing a cluster of cases in areas like New York that have had a high burden of COVID-19,” says Wu. “The timing of these cases are during or coincident with this pandemic.”

While not every child with the inflammatory syndrome has tested positive for COVID-19, Wu says many have. She says it leads her to have a high suspicion the two are related, likely with the inflammation being caused by the body responding to the coronavirus.

“Sometimes what can happen during this cascade of events [as the body responds],” Wu describes, “if it’s not tightly controlled, it can have untoward effects. We think that the syndrome more has to do with our immune system’s reaction to fighting the virus as opposed to the virus itself.”

Dr. Stephanie Davis is the chair for UNC’s Department of Pediatrics and is an expert in pediatric pulmonology. She says no cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome have been reported in the health system yet.

“We have not seen that at UNC at this point,” she says, “but it is definitely something we’re really beginning to understand.”

Davis does say, though, medical experts are still learning just how COVID-19 affects children. She says it’s very likely despite them not being affected the same way as adults, children still could pass the coronavirus on to others. The virus is most infectious when first contracted, but people typically don’t show symptoms until later on into the illness. With children showing milder or no symptoms, though, Davis says it’s even more important to be vigilant with health.

“There have likely been a number of children who have had COVID-19 that no one knows actually had it because they’re asymptomatic,” she says. “There’s really no way for parents to know.”

When it comes to protecting any spread within the home or cleaning up after a child who might have been exposed, Davis gives the same advice health officials are giving adults.

“At home,” she says, “basically good hand-washing, wiping down surfaces and keeping things clean are the most important things the parents can do.”

Davis says while taking steps to prevent any infection is important, parents should not be concerned about bringing their children to the hospital or doctor if they’re sick. She says hospitals and clinics have been set up in a safe manner to protect patients and visitors.

“Certainly we do not want children presenting more sick [at the hospital] than they would have because of a delay,” says Davis. “And we have seen that here at UNC.”

For more information on how UNC Health is responding to COVID-19, and to get additional resources from the health system, visit its coronavirus web page.

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UNC Health Experts: New Illness in Children Likely a Reaction to COVID-19

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