05_BT_May 2022

Baby & Toddler
Health & Medical Diary
Dr Livia Chow Huey Ling
Consultant Paediatrician & Neonatologist,
Pantai Hospital Ayer Keroh
What is MIS-C?
MIS-C is a severe but rare complication
of COVID-19 infection where different
organs in the body get inflamed. For
example, the brain, heart, eyes, lungs,
kidney, skin and digestive tracts.
MIS-C usually occurs in older children
between 8 to 11 years old. However,
cases occurring in younger and older
children have also been reported.
Causes of MIS-C
The exact cause as to why MIS-C
occurs is not yet fully understood,
and to date, it is being continuously
studied. It is believed that it is caused
by an overactive immune response to
the COVID-19 virus and thus results in
inflammation and damage to various
organs in the body.
Symptoms to be
aware of
What are the symptoms that parents
should look out for if they suspect that
their child might have MIS-C? There
is a variable presentation of MIS-C in
children, and each child might not
have the same symptoms. Common
symptoms include:
• Persistent fever lasting between 3 to
5 days
• Tummy pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Skin rash
• Feeling lethargic
• Heart palpitations
• Red eyes
• Swollen hands or feet
• Swollen lips or tongue
• Headache
• Swelling of lymph nodes
Warning signs that indicate a more
serious condition are:
• Trouble breathing
• Severe tummy pain
• Difficult to wake your child up
• Pale or bluish discolouration of the
lips or skin
• Child appears confused
If your child develops any warning signs
or appears very sick, bring your child
to the hospital immediately. Similarly, if
your child has any of the above MIS-C
symptoms, please consult your doctor
immediately for further advice.
Doctors will need to perform several
tests, such as a COVID-19 test, some
blood work to look for evidence of
inflammation in the body to detect any
organ impairment and to look for other
causes besides MIS-C that can present
with similar presentations. Depending
on the symptoms that the child
presents with, there might be a need
for a chest X-ray and a heart scan.
Treating MIS-C
Children diagnosed with MIS-C will
usually need hospitalisation, and some
may require treatment and closer
observation in the Paediatric Intensive
Care Unit (ICU). Treatments will
include medication that reduces the
body’s excessive immune response and
medication that reduces inflammation
in the body. Other treatment and
support will be given depending on
the condition of the child as well as
test results. Most children recover from
MIS-C if detected and treated early.
From January to March this year,
we see more children infected with
COVID-19 and more of these children
are presenting with more serious
symptoms that need care in the PICU.
The best way to prevent complications
of COVID-19 infection, which includes
MIS-C, is to prevent COVID-19 infection
in the first place. Thus, it is crucial to
maintain strict preventative measures.
It is also advisable for children above
five years old to get the COVID-19
vaccination to protect against
COVID-19 infection. Above all, we
should not let our guard down as we
prepare to enter the endemic phase.
24 BabyTalk | May 2022