DENVER – There have already been 29 confirmed cases in Colorado of a still-mysterious inflammatory syndrome seen in children and young adults believed to be a consequence of the virus that causes COVID-19, state public health officials said on Wednesday.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) said that Colorado hospitals reported the highest number of Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in December than reported so far during the pandemic.
The department said the data corresponds to the peak of COVID-19 cases that the state saw during October and November and that it expects the number of cases to grow as the CDC continues to review possible December cases.
Public health officials and scientists are still working to find out more about the syndrome, which appears most often in children who have had COVID-19 or been exposed to someone who has had the virus. But CDPHE said the official cause of MIS-C has yet to be determined.
The department first warned of MIS-C in May, when three children were confirmed with the syndrome. In July, two people died of MIS-C – deaths that, according to the state, occurred in the spring.
The CDPHE said on Wednesday that there were no more deaths related to the syndrome, which generally affects children aged 5 to 15, but was found in young adults under 20 – including a 20-year-old from Boulder County, the department of local public health identified in October.
With some Colorado students returning to the classroom, and more districts hopeful that they can begin this process soon, the CDPHE medical director said it was time to remind people that the syndrome can occur in children who often have mild cases. of COVID-19 or who are asymptomatic.
“There is still a lot we don’t know about MIS-C and the notable increase in cases is a clear reminder that our children are also at risk of serious complications due to COVID-19,” said CDPHE medical director, Dr. Eric France. “As face-to-face learning is resumed, it is important that students continue to take steps to decrease the spread of COVID-19, such as masking, practicing physical distance, washing hands and staying at home when they are sick.”
Symptoms associated with MIS-C include inflammation of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal system, as well as fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes, red eyes and more.
CDPHE said that parents of children who have symptoms should contact their child’s doctor and seek emergency care if life-threatening symptoms arise, such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, inability to stay awake, lips or blue faces or severe abdomen pain.
The department also recommends that children of all ages get tested for COVID-19 if they experience symptoms.