A 2-month-old from Michigan has recently died from complications from the novel coronavirus according to the state’s chief medical executive said during a Wednesday press conference.
CME Dr. Joneigh Khaldun spoke on the news while discussing multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), the illness that many children have experienced after contracting COVID-19. Khaldun revealed that over 800 children across the United States have been diagnosed with the illness.
“Studies show that while children are less likely to get severely ill from COVID-19, they still can,” Khaldun said, according to The Detroit News.
“And they can also pass it on to others including adults who are more likely to get sick or ill from COVID-19.”
The 2-month-old is the youngest coronavirus fatality in Michigan as well as the only child under the age of 1 to die from the illness.
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In the United States, a total of 20 children younger than 1 had died of the virus as of September 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness Khaldun referenced, MIS-C, has been seen in children who have previously had coronavirus or been exposed to someone infected with the illness.
Formerly, it was called pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome.
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MIS-C appears to mirror Kawaski disease, a rare but treatable condition that causes inflammation in blood vessels and seems to affect the heart of those who may have been infected with COVID-19 but does not include coughing and shortness of breath.
The symptoms of MIS-C include, fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and feeling fatigued.
The CDC urged parents in a May 14 health advisory, to contact their child’s doctor, nurse or clinic right away if they experience any of these symptoms and to take the child to the hospital immediately if they show emergent symptoms: 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 or severe abdominal pain.