Initially it was believed the coronavirus did not have an impact on children like it did to seniors and people with pre-existing conditions, however, the disease is one the continues to surprise medical experts.

After three deaths and approximately 100 cases of what is now being called Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, hospitals have been advised to prioritize COVID-19 and its antibody testing in children.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, “If we have this issue in New York, it's probably another states. It probably hasn't been diagnosed yet in other states because again these children don't present the usual COVID symptoms.”

Doctors say the reason it is important to test for antibodies is because they believe children are experiencing a reaction to the virus that they likely had weeks prior and didn’t even know it. Testing for the antibodies can help point them in the right direction when it comes to making a diagnosis and coming up with a treatment plan.

Pediatrician Dr. John Zaso explained, “At least knowing that they have that antibody would give us a warning that, ‘OK, you might potentially be at risk for this disease.’”

Doctors are telling parents not to panic, but to be on the lookout for symptoms that present themselves similarly to atypical Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome.

Symptoms include:
-prolonged fever (typically lasting more than 5 days)
-body rash
-irritability
-difficulty feeding for infants
-red eyes
-inflamed tongue
-enlarges lymph nodes
-lethargy

Dr. Zaso added that what hospitals are typically seeing with the disease is first inflammation. Then, in some children goes to the lungs, for others it’s the brain or heart muscle. When it goes to different parts of the body, it causes irritation which is when they see complications, according to Dr. Zaso.

NY health officials: 3 deaths, about 100 cases reported of inflammatory syndrome believed to be connected to COVID-19 

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