CANTON, NY — Children have been significantly less affected by COVID-19. One percent of New Yorkers who have been hospitalized were under 20 years old.
Additionally, only 7% of the positive case in St. Lawrence County have been in children under 20 years old. However, the State Department of Health is investigating 124 reported cases and 3 deaths in New York of children, predominantly school-aged, possibly due to COVID-19.
Though most children who get COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, this inflammatory syndrome has features which overlap with Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome and may occur days to weeks after acute COVID-19 illness.
Parents should seek immediate care if a child has these symptoms:
Prolonged fever (more than five days),
Difficulty feeding (infants) or too sick to drink fluids,
Severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting,
Change in skin color: becoming pale, patchy and/or blue,
Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly,
Racing heart or chest pain,
Decreased amount of frequency in urine, and
Fatigue, irritability, or confusion
Of the children displaying these symptoms in New York State, 89% tested positive for COVID-19 either by a diagnostic test, an antibody test, or both. Early recognition by pediatricians and referral to a specialist including to critical care is essential.
If you have questions regarding this syndrome, please contact your pediatrician.