Cases of COVID-19 related disease in kids reported

Connecticut officials are reporting a growing number of cases of a rare but potentially deadly COVID-19 related disease that causes severe inflammations in young children.

Yale New Haven Health officials said Wednesday they are treating two new cases of the mysterious illness, in addition to the three reported there earlier this week. In addition, at least two cases have been reported at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

One of the young patients has now been released from Yale New Haven Hospital while the others “are doing quite well,” said Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer of the Yale New Haven health system.

New York state officials are now reportedly investigating about 100 possible cases of the new childhood disorder and there have been three child deaths in that state from the disease. Several other states around the U.S. have also reported possible cases.

Josh Geballe, Gov. Ned Lamont’s chief administrative officer, said the state Department of Public Health has now issued an alert “to all Connecticut pediatric health systems” to be on the look-out for new cases and to report any that are found.

“Now this is a trackable illness in the state of Connecticut,” Geballe said.

“These are young and healthy children with no underlying conditions,” Balcezak said of the Connecticut patients during an afternoon briefing. He said none of the five children at Yale New Haven showed signs of having the coronavirus before showing these extreme inflammatory symptoms.

The new illness is now being called “Pediatric multi-system inflammatory disorder” and Balcezak said the COVID-19 related syndrome causes “an overwhelming inflammatory response, possibly driven by the body’s own immune system.”

Balcezak said four of the five children in question have tested positive for COVID-19 and that the fifth child is also suspected to have the virus.

Children who develop this new illness often have fevers, rashes on their back or legs, swollen and cracked lips, and swelling in their feet and hands, according to Balcezak. He said parents who see such symptoms in their children should immediately contact their doctors.

The first three Connecteicut cases of this new coronavirus-related syndrome were reported by state officials Monday.