Virus-related syndrome poses danger to children

The Rappahannock Area Health District is reporting its first confirmed case of a rare inflammatory illness associated with COVID-19 that strikes children.

The child who contracted the illness has recovered. Health officials didn’t provide information about age, gender or residence to protect the child’s privacy.

The illness is known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C. It was first identified in Europe in late April, in areas where there had been widespread cases of the novel coronavirus. Cases showed up in New York in early May.

To date, there have been seven children diagnosed in Virginia: five in Northern Virginia, one in the Shenandoah Valley and one in the Fredericksburg area. No deaths from MIS-C have been reported in Virginia, but health officials believe the illness is responsible for the deaths of at least four children in New York and Louisiana.

MIS-C can cause problems with a child’s heart and other organs, according to health officials. In many cases, children have a fever lasting several days and may show symptoms of irritability or decreased activity, abdominal pain without another explanation, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, conjunctivitis, lack of appetite, red or cracked lips, red or bumpy tongue or swollen hands and feet.

Symptoms differ from one child to another, and parents are urged to contact their doctor if their child becomes ill with a continued fever or any other symptoms, the health district reported.

“Unfortunately, this serves as a reminder that much of our community remains susceptible to this disease,” said Dr. Donald Stern, acting director of the local health district. “I urge all local health care providers to immediately report any patient who meets these criteria to the local health department.”

Stern said the case was identified after the fact, based on new information that became available related to the syndrome. He wouldn’t say when the child became ill.