New York City calls on doctors to watch for children with syndrome possibly associated with COVID-19

New York City health officials are warning doctors of an unusual inflammatory syndrome seen in children that could potentially be associated with the coronavirus. 

According to a health alert issued Monday evening, 15 cases of the inflammatory syndrome have been detected in the city so far, with some of the patients testing positive for the coronavirus. The children have persistent fever and other symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease or features of toxic shock syndrome. 

At least five of the children required a ventilator, and more than half required blood pressure support. No fatalities have been reported among the New York patients thus far. 

Tuesday morning, the New York City Health Department issued an alert to medical providers asking them to watch out for the condition. 

“Early recognition & specialist referral are essential, including to critical care,” the department said in a statement. 

BREAKING: NYC has issued alert to medical providers to watch for children w/ unusual syndrome possibly causes by covid19.

“Early recognition & specialist referral are essential, including to critical care.”

If your child has high fever, rashes or stomach pains, call a doc asap. pic.twitter.com/ISdrpge9oz

— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) May 5, 2020

On Sunday, the United Kingdom’s Pediatric Intensive Care Society linked to a National Health Service alert warning of a small increase in children with critical illnesses manifesting as “overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease with blood parameters,” some of whom were diagnosed with the virus.