Mysterious disease spreading among kids
‘KAWASAKI-LIKE’ CONDITIONS SURFACE POST-COVID 19
Amysterious and severe inflammatory syndrome linked to coronavirus has been reported in a few children in Pakistan. Doctors raised the alarm after 24 cases were reported in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad — including one child who has died.
The illness being loosely termed as “Kawasaki-like” disease is considered to be a postcoronavirus infection among children, causing fright amid the pandemic.
Dr Masood Sadiq, dean at Children’s Hospital Lahore, explained that all eight children currently in hospital have tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, which means they were infected by the virus, but have since recovered.
“This is why doctors believe this is a rare disease linked with coronavirus.” The first child admitted to hospital with the rare disease, unfortunately, did not survive. However, all the other eight children are recovering, Dr Sadiq said. All the children are male and older than five years, he said.
Symptoms
The sickness bears a resemblance to a rare illness called Kawasaki disease, first reported in Japan. Dr Sadiq said the affected children in Lahore reported fever during the first three-five days, with vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as swelling of the hands and feet and bloodshot eyes. While the Kawasaki disease was reported in children younger than five, the emerging ‘Kawasaki-like disease’ is being reported in those between five and 18 years in Pakistan.
“There is no need to panic. This disease is not like coronavirus that has no treatment. Full recovery is possible in this case and can be treated if diagnosed in time,” Dr Sadiq assured.
The disease that affected children showing multisystem inflammatory syndrome was first detected last month in Europe and then in the United
States and Canada and is now being reported in Asian countries as well, including India, experts said.
Although the disease is “exceptionally rare” and only a handful of cases have been reported in Pakistan so far, paediatric specialists who focus on children said they have informed the hospitals and clinics across the country.