Clinical data, complications, sequelae, and death causes in MIS-C

Abstract

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a potentially life-threatening childhood disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, manifested by the persistence of fever and multiple organ dysfunction, elevated inflammatory markers, and the lack of an alternative diagnosis. Generally, at the time of diagnosis, children had positive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 but negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests at the time of the MIS-C evaluation. Fever, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic, mucocutaneous, and respiratory manifestations are common clinical features. Patients with MIS-C are typically previously healthy, and their most common comorbidity is obesity. Cardiovascular abnormalities, which are the most prevalent complications of MIS-C patients, and thromboembolic events have the greatest influence on the severity of the disease. The majority of patients with MIS-C have a severe course of the disease, requiring intensive care unit admission up to 76%, respiratory support, special care, and vigorous treatment including inotropic drugs; nonetheless, the majority of patients have favorable outcomes, and overall mortality is low.