Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) Did Occur in Poland during Months with Low COVID-19 Prevalence. Preliminary Results of a Nationwide Register.

Abstract

Pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is a new entity in children, likely associated with previous coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Most of reports about PIMS come from countries particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our aim was to investigate the nature of inflammatory syndromes in Poland (a country with low COVID-19 prevalence) and to perceive the emergence of PIMS in our country. On May 25th, we have launched a nationwide survey of inflammatory syndromes in children for retrospective (since 4th March 2020) and prospective data collection. Up to 28th July, 39 reported children met inclusion criteria. We stratified them according to age (<5 and ≥ 5 years old) and COVID-19 status. The majority of children had clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease, probably non-associated with COVID-19. However, children ≥5 years of age had PIMS characteristics, and 9 children had COVID-19 confirmation. This is the first to our knowledge report of PIMS register from the country with low COVID-19 prevalence, and it proves that PIMS may emerge in any area involved in the COVID-19 pandemic. In a context of limited COVID-19 testing availability, other risk factors of PIMS, e.g. older age should be considered in the differential diagnosis of inflammatory syndromes in children.

Attitudes of Parents with Regard to Vaccination of Children against COVID-19 in Poland. A Nationwide Online Survey

“…The estimated risk of developing PIMS is 0.1 to 1 case per 1000 children. According to scientific reports, the death rate in children in the course of PIMS oscillates around 2% [ 35 , 36 , 37 ]. Moreover, children—frequently referred to as asymptomatic carriers – may be responsible for the spread of the virus in both the household and school, representing an essential chain of viral transmission [ 38 ].…”

Wide spectrum of clinical picture of COVID-19 in children — From mild to severe disease

“…There is, however, a group of patients with markedly elevated inflammatory markers and multisystem involvement, including shock and cardiovascular complications. In this group of patients, PCR results from nasopharyngeal swabs may negative with the presence of anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies, which indicates that the virus triggers an immune response in the pathogenesis of the disease [ [16] , [17] , [18] ].…”

Pneumonia, gastrointestinal symptoms, comorbidities, and coinfections as factors related to a lengthier hospital stay in children with COVID-19—analysis of a paediatric part of Polish register SARSTer

“…Five children with paediatric inflammatory response syndrome temporally related to SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) were registered in the study due to the positive results of the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in nasopharyngeal swabs. Most children with PIMS-TS were reported to a different register and involved in another research [ 22 ].…”