From an interview with
Dr. Meghan Jordan
McLeod Pediatric Associates of Florence West

The impact of coronavirus on young children can vary from something that feels like the flu to a life-threatening condition, as McLeod Pediatrician Dr. Meghan Jordan explains.

Here’s a summary of her comments:
COVID-19 presents differently in children than it does in adults. Most children either have very mild or no symptoms  with COVID-19. If they do have symptoms, if might be fever, runny nose, cough, a shortness of breath or chest tightness. They might only have a runny nose and don’t even know that they have coronavirus. Adults, especially adults with preexisting conditions and older adults, often have much more severe symptoms with the virus.
 
We do know that COVID-19 affects children and adults who have preexisting conditions often more severely than those, who don’t and are previously healthy. Children with asthma, diabetes, immune system disorders or anything that puts their immune system at risk are at a higher risk of having severe symptoms associated with COVID-19. Their families need to take extra precautions to ensure that their children are protected against the virus.
 
A new manifestation of the virus has appeared over the last several months. It’s Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MISC. It seems to be an inflammatory response to the virus, similar to some responses we’ve seen in children, such as Kawasaki’s disease. MISC is very rare. And there’s only a handful of cases in the country right now. These children are severely ill, usually with high fevers for an extended period of time. Children may have a rash or infected red eyes, red lips, red tongue, swollen hands and feet.
 
MISC is typically identified in patients, who are already hospitalized, and physicians are searching for a cause for why they became so severely ill so quickly. This is not something that I would worry about if your child only has a rash but is otherwise acting normal. If you are concerned that your child may have MISC, you can always talk to your doctor or take your child in to be seen. It is something has been successfully treated. Seeking medical care when you are concerned for this is something that is important.

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