Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome associated with COVID-19: A report of 10 cases in a Peruvian hospital

Medwave. 2021 Mar 30;21(2):e8142. doi: 10.5867/medwave.2021.02.8142.
[Article in English, Spanish]

Abstract

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 is a potentially severe and rare condition that still needs a better understanding to guide its management. Reports worldwide, and especially in Latin America, are still scarce. This report presents ten cases of pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19 in children between 2 and 12 years old treated in a Peruvian hospital, diagnosed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was detected through serological tests (immunoglobulin M or G). Most had gastrointestinal symptoms. Therapeutics consisted mainly of intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, digoxin, and antibiotic therapy. Three patients underwent mechanical ventilation; no mortality occurred in this case series. In conclusion, the manifestations presented here are similar to those reported in the literature. A timely diagnosis is necessary for proper management.

El síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico en niños asociado a COVID-19 es un cuadro potencialmente grave y poco frecuente, que necesita un mejor entendimiento para guiar su manejo. Los reportes a nivel mundial, y especialmente en Latinoamérica, son aún escasos. Se presentan diez casos de síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico por COVID-19 en niños entre 2 y 12 años de edad, atendidos en un hospital peruano, diagnosticados mediante los criterios de los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades de Estados Unidos (CDC). La presencia de coronavirus 2 del síndrome respiratorio agudo severo (SARS-CoV-2) fue detectada a través de pruebas serológicas (inmunoglobulinas M y G). La mayoría presentó síntomas gastrointestinales. La terapéutica fue con inmunoglobulina endovenosa, corticosteroide, ivermectina, hidroxicloroquina, digoxina y antibióticos. Tres pacientes recibieron ventilación mecánica, ninguno falleció. En conclusión, las características presentadas en esta serie de casos son similares a los de la literatura existente; lo que implica que un diagnóstico oportuno es fundamental para su adecuado manejo.

Keywords: COVID-19 related pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease; Child; Kawasaki disease; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / diagnosis
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology
  • COVID-19 / therapy*
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hospitalization*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Peru
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / therapy*

Supplementary concepts

  • pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease, COVID-19 related