Bhubaneswar: Multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS), a post-COVID complication in paediatric cases, has emerged as a concern in Odisha, where over 100 in the age group of 0-18 years are being diagnosed with the infection every day.
Director, Public Health, Niranjan Mishra on Thursday said that MI Syndrome was not prevalent in children during the first wave. “The rise in cases during the second wave also saw a simultaneous spike in the reports of MI syndrome in children,” he said.
Stating that children with MI Syndrome suffer from acute headache, vomiting and loose motion, he said the mortality rate in such cases can be substantially reduced if parents immediately admit them to the hospitals in consultation with doctors.
Mishra said that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had directed to keep adequate stock of oxygen cylinders and increase the number of pediatric beds in all government hospitals. “While all medical colleges and hospitals in the state have set up more ICU and HDU beds for the children, such facilities will be available in all district headquarters hospitals soon,” he added.
According to Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bijay Panigrahi 80 per cent of children and adolescents testing positive for COVID are asymptomatic while 15 per cent have mild symptoms. “Among the remaining 5 per cent of children with severe symptoms, 3 per cent are recovering through oxygen while 2 per cent need ICU care,” he added.
He said that MIS symptoms in children appear four to six weeks after COVID-19 infection. Most children with MIS have antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 virus. Though it usually affects 8 to 10-year-olds, the syndrome has also been seen in infants and young adults.
“The symptoms include fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) lasting 24 hours or more, abdominal pain, diarrhoea or vomiting, neck pain, rash or changes in skin colour, bloodshot eyes, extra tiredness, shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest that persists and bluish lips or face. Apart from this, they become confused and are unable to wake up or stay awake. If these symptoms prolong, the children will become critical due to multi-organ failure,” Panigrahi said.
He said that such children may require IV fluid, supportive therapy and a high dose steroid.
“They are kept under observation for 24 hours. If they do not recover during this period, they are given IV fluid and other medicines,” Panigrahi pointed out.
Training has been imparted to the paediatricians and the health workers to deal with such cases, he added.
