The Washoe County Health District is reporting three additional pediatric cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The disease is rare and is associated with a previous COVID-19 infection and can lead to adverse health impacts.

All three cases were under 10 years of age, required hospitalization for 3-5 days and recovered.

MIS-C is a rare but severe condition where the body’s organs become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. MIS-C can occur approximately 2-4 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 in children and adolescents under the ages of 20 years. The risk factors that result in increased likelihood for developing MIS-C are not well understood.

According to early studies by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately two-thirds of MIS-C cases did not have preexisting medical conditions prior to onset of MIS-C. Early identification, diagnoses and treatment are important to prevent long-lasting impacts to internal organs.

The CDC says to seek emergency care right away if your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs of MIS-C:

• Rash
• Abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea
• Bloodshot eyes, or “pink eye”
• Fever
• Trouble breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face
• Severe abdominal pain

More information about MIS-C can be found on the CDC website.

The Washoe County Health District is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making Washoe County District Board of Health. The District consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.