8 More LA Children Hospitalized With Coronavirus-Linked Syndrome

LOS ANGELES, CA — Another eight children in Los Angeles County have contracted the rare inflammatory condition connected with the coronavirus, county health officials confirmed Sunday.

The county has now seen 62 cases of children with Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C, including one fatal case, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The rare syndrome has afflicted often asymptomatic children two to four weeks after exposure to the coronavirus. In Los Angeles County, MIS-C has afflicted Latino children disproportionately much as coronavirus, itself, has. They account for nearly three-quarters of all cases.

All 62 children were hospitalized and 45% were treated in the ICU. Of the children with MIS-C, 31% were under 5 years old; 37% were between 5 and 11; and 32% were between 12 and 20.

Authorities did not release further details about the individual cases.

Symptoms include fever that does not go away and inflamed body parts, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. According to the CDC, the average age of children afflicted with the syndrome is 8. It is still not understood what causes some children to develop MIS-C, while others do not despite contracting COVID-19.
The child who died from the syndrome earlier this year in Los Angeles County had a pre-existing cardiac condition.

If you believe your child is displaying MIS-C symptoms, contact your primary care or urgent care provider. Seek emergency care for critical or life-threatening conditions. If you do not have a primary care provider, dial 211 and L.A. County will help connect you to one.

City News Service contributed to this report.