Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Here’s what you need to know about Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in order to make safe and healthy choices for your family.
Concerned about your child's symptoms?
Current status for children
Likelihood of contraction
Severity of illness
What is MIS-C?
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (commonly shortened MIS-C) is a cluster of symptoms that have recently been observed alongside COVID-19 infections or exposure in kids. If left untreated, it can lead to a shock like illness marked by low blood pressure, poor organ function, and can be life threatening.
What are the symptoms of MIS-C?
All Patients
Persistent fever (more than 3 days, greater than 100.4°)*
Most Patients
Exposure to coronavirus, low oxygen (in extreme cases lips or tongue will turn blue due to this) and low blood pressure (poor color, i.e. your child’s skin tone appears grey or pale, sleepy and difficult to arouse, not responding to verbal instructions or physical touch).
Some Patients
Stomach pain, red eyes, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, dry/red/cracked lips, rash, sore throat, swollen hands or feet, loss of consciousness, and/or confusion.
*known cases of MIS-C typically have fevers greater than 101.3° for longer than 4 days
When should I be concerned?
The likelihood of MIS-C is low. Even when showing some of the symptoms above, it is more likely that your child is exhibiting signs of other, more common, illnesses. However, because of the severity of MIS-C, we recommend reaching out to a doctor any time your child has:
- A fever (greater than 100.4 in children under 2 years old, or greater than 101 in children over 2 years old) for more than 2 days in a row.
- They seem sick to you, are presenting with any symptoms listed above, and have been continually getting worse after a few days of illness.
Do not delay care if you are worried that your child might be showing symptoms of MIS-C, especially if they have been exposed to COVID-19.