Mississippi has first COVID-19 case of a child with multisystem inflammatory syndrome
A child from Central Mississippi was diagnosed with the first known case in the state of multisystem inflammatory syndrome caused by COVID-19, but State Health Officer Thomas Dobbs said he expects to see more cases.
Dobbs said during Gov. Tate Reeves’ daily news conference Tuesday that several suspected cases are being monitored.
MIS-C can cause acute illness, requiring hospitalization in intensive care, the World Health Organization says.
The boy diagnosed in Central Mississippi tested positive for COVID-19. He has been released from the hospital, Dobbs said.
“It is a treatable disease, certainly I know the kid will get fantastic medical care going forward,” Dobbs said.
MIS-C in an inflammatory illness, found in children under 18 years old, that can be associated with previous COVID-19 infection, a Mississippi State Health Department news release said. The news release said the illness is rare and not contagious.
“This is a reminder that, while the number of COVID-19 cases in children has been relatively low, the virus can still cause severe illness in children,” Dobbs said in the news release. “This syndrome presents itself post-COVID-19 infection.”
The MSDH has reported a total of 11,704 COVID-19 cases, 554 deaths and 7,681 recoveries. Only 18 Mississippians under age 18 have been hospitalized with COVID-19, with no deaths, the MSHD reports.
The MSDH also reported the first child pediatric flu death of 2020 on Tuesday. The child, who did not test positive for COVID-19, also was from Central Mississippi.
