Clinicians are being warned that a potential COVID-19 related disease has emerged infecting children in the UK.
The warning said that there is an increase in the number of children regardless of age that shows a multisystem inflammatory state that requires intensive care in London and other regions of the UK. There was also a concern that the said disease is related to COVID-19 or it could be a new unidentified infectious pathogen.
The clinical commissioning group in North London issued the alert but the Paediatric Intensive Care Society (PICS) said that the warning has been passed on to its members by NHS England.
Watch Out for Toxic Shock Syndrome and Atypical Kawasaki Disease
The letter that was described as "significant alert" indicated that there was an overlapping feature of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki disease and blood parameters are similar to that of severe COVID-19 among the children. Features revealed were cardiac inflammation, abdominal pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
In the letter, some children tested positive with the COVID-19 while others are not. It also stated that medical practitioners should treat all cases with a sense of urgency. The warning was sent out to provide children with the best care possible and to investigate cases fast.
Kawasaki Disease is Rarely Seen
The NHS national clinical director for children and young people, Professor Simon Kenny commented on the warning and said that he is grateful that the Kawasaki disease is rarely seen in young patients just like serious complications in children that are caused by the coronavirus. He added that even so, it is best to let clinicians know of the possible disease connections to COVID-19 so that they could give the patients the right care.
Adding to that, Professor Kenny advises parents to seek immediate help if there is something wrong and go to the hospital if the medical practitioner advises them to do so.
As of the moment, there are no confirmed links between COVID-19 complications and Kawasaki disease yet.
Parents Should Seek Immediate Care for Any Symptoms Relating to COVID-19
The PICS is reminding everyone to highlight that even though there are very few cases of children that have been admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19, there was a case that has been published that relates to COVID-19 showing Kawasaki syndrome. Apart from that, there are some children who exhibit the description mentioned by the NHS England alert.
PICS' message to the healthcare provider is that they should discuss with their pediatric infectious disease or critical care team about what to do when they see young patients who have symptoms of the toxic shock of Kawasaki disease.
The organization would continue to work with others so that they could collect more accurate data that relates to critically ill children that are positive to COVID-19.
