What We Know About Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) Associated with COVID-19

Most children with COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus, are either asymptomatic (meaning they don’t have any symptoms) or have mild infections. Rarely, some children are hospitalized and can get very sick. In some of those cases, doctors are seeing a newly identified condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C.

“Much remains unknown about how exactly this develops, but it’s related to the body’s attempts to fight an invader,” reports The Denver Post in an interview with Sam Dominguez, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children’s Colorado.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children may be connected to the coronavirus

Some children reported to have MIS-C have tested positive for COVID-19, while others have not. Although doctors do suspect a connection between the two conditions, there are many unanswered questions, and information is changing rapidly.

Doctors are working to identify treatments

Across the country, pediatric hospitals are working together to understand MIS-C. Our physician-scientists are working with others around the world to understand MIS-C and how best to treat it.

“This is a very rare disease, and we’re working hard to find the best approach to caring for these children,” said Dr. Dominguez, speaking to CBS News.

Most children with MIS-C are being treated with medicines, such as immune globulin (IVIG) or other anti-inflammatory medications, that are used for Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Fortunately, most children have responded well to those treatments. Children’s Colorado is an expert in these areas. Our own Jim Todd, MD, discovered TSS and identified the first case of Kawasaki disease in continental North America. Mimi Glode, MD, pioneered the use of IVIG for the treatment for Kawasaki disease, and we have a nationally recognized Kawasaki disease clinical and research teams. We also formed a multidisciplinary team of specialists who drafted guidelines to assist in recognizing and treating patients with MIS-C.

What to do if you think your child has MIS-C

If your child has any symptoms of the coronavirus or MIS-C, call your doctor's office first and they can recommend appropriate care. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 911.

"Pediatrician's offices are a safe place to be,” said Sara Saporta-Keating, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist, speaking to KOAA. “We encourage parents to continue to seek medical care when they think it's warranted. Going through the pediatrician first, unless there's an emergency, is the best thing to do. The biggest takeaway for parents is not to panic."

Watch an interview with Dr. Dominguez on CBS News

Additional resources

• Read more about MIS-C.
• Learn how our experts developed a clinical pathway for treating MIS-C.
• Listen to our Charting Pediatrics episode Kawasaki Disease or MIS-C: What We Are Learning About COVID-19 Presentation in Pediatrics

Editor's note: This page was updated on Dec. 21, 2020. Due to the nature of the coronavirus pandemic, recommendations can change quickly. Please follow all rules and guidelines set by state and local public health and safety authorities. Reference the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for immediate updates on COVID-19.