Worried about MIS-C and the new strains in children

[HousebySea]

I'm trying not to be, but I'm worried.

The new strains, the South African one some doctors there have said it's causing more severe illness in young people.

MIS-C , yes I know most don't develop it after COVID, but it seems pretty serious.

My DC have both had (I presume) 'normal' COVID, despite wearing masks the majority of the day at school, and us being really really careful throughout.

My DS (11) had the positive test in late November. He had a widespread big rash, a fever which dragged on for nearly two weeks, headaches, tiredness, dry lips. He's still slightly more tired than before. It was going through his class at school and his whole class and other classes had to isolate for 2 weeks.

My DD (15) had a fever which dragged on nearly two weeks as well, COVID fingers and toes, chest pains which seemed to peak as the fever did, headaches, joint pains in arms and knees, really tired. Weeks later she is still getting what she says is 'burning' lung feelings if she shouts or runs even a little and gets much more tired than before after doing activities.

I don't know, I'm just worried about the effects on children.

I worry they could develop MIS-C or something could be triggered if they come into contact with the mutated strains.

I never got any symptoms and I tested negative despite being in close contact and not distancing from the youngest.

I forgot to add, DD was and still is, a little breathless at times.

I’m with you - I’m worrying too, and as things stand would choose to keep my DC at home for at least start of next term. Hopefully your DC will have some immunity for at least the next few months as they recover? A

What is MIS-C?

Think it means the multi inflammatory syndrome a few children have had. I though it was at the time of the disease rather than afterwards though.

I’m sorry your kids had complications. In your position I would worry because most healthy kids get minor / no symptoms. So by that logic MIS-C is most likely in the ones who do have them. Have you had them checked for risk factors or allergies?

If they've both had Covid, without getting MIS-C, then they're even safer than most children, because the number of even adults getting any form of Covid twice is pretty minimal.

@GrumpyHoonMain

I’m sorry your kids had complications. In your position I would worry because most healthy kids get minor / no symptoms. So by that logic MIS-C is most likely in the ones who do have them. Have you had them checked for risk factors or allergies?

I thought multi inflammatory had affected quite a lot of asymptomatic cases (that were just found to have antibodies). I think we all need to be adopting a cautious approach and resisting the government’s approach which is based on - let’s face it - cost effectiveness.

From what I read MIS-C affects children in the weeks after COVID infection.

I don't know how I'd go about getting them checked for risk factors and they don't have any allergies.

I just don't like the look of it.

Neither of them have ever had a temperature so long. It's like their bodies were 'inflamed'. DS rash on his central body was really bad and lasted weeks, his eyes were red and sore, and DD chest pains and chest burning, weird. blotches on joints and she's been sleeping 16 hours a day some days which never happened before..

I just don't think it's as 'completely mild' in children as is made out. Yes many are asymptomatic, but of those who aren't it's not just a cold.. and this isn't the 'new' strains I don't think (only 5% of positives were the new strain when they had it).

Worrying.
Hope your children get better soon .

I am sorry you are anxious but at this point you are just making up worries. There is no evidence that children are suffering any worse due to new strains

How is dry lips a symptom of serious illness? Do you mean chapped lips? These are very common in the winter.

There is a whole group of children with long covid suffering months later so it can and does effect children. Mant children werent exposed in march, april etc due to schools being closed. So its hard to totally know if the numbers in children was dur to lack of exposure or the first strains effected children less BUT there has been a huge increase in children being hospitlised recently

@Trackandtrace

There is a whole group of children with long covid suffering months later so it can and does effect children. Mant children werent exposed in march, april etc due to schools being closed. So its hard to totally know if the numbers in children was dur to lack of exposure or the first strains effected children less BUT there has been a huge increase in children being hospitlised recently

Has there? I havent heard that

@Jrobhatch29

I am sorry you are anxious but at this point you are just making up worries. There is no evidence that children are suffering any worse due to new strains

www.google.com/amp/s/www.africanews.com/amp/2020/12/21/south-africa-detects-new-variant-of-coronavirus/

Doctors in South Africa have also noted a shift in the epidemiological landscape, with more younger patients, without co-morbidities, developing severe forms of the disease

www.facebook.com/longcovidkids/

That doesnt say children

Here is a screen shot off twitter. Also worth reading posts fron independant sage and there scientists

Sorry image didnt post

Very concerning.

@Trackandtrace

Sorry image didnt post

I saw that on facebook the other day and was initially alarmed. If you google admissions for broncholitis though you see that there are around 30,000 admissions a year just in under 5s. Whilst we don't want any child to be admitted for any virus I think it is important to remember that children have very low admission rates for covid compared to existing viruses. My little boy had RSV as a baby and the ward was rammed with kids on oxygen. I am not minimising anything, and hope the new strain doesn't change anything.

@Puppylucky

How is dry lips a symptom of serious illness? Do you mean chapped lips? These are very common in the winter.

I didn't say it was. They were both dehydrated from the temperature lasting nearly two weeks I think.

It was a strange illness for both of them. Not just a sniffle like it can be portrayed as in kids. I don't like the look of it, and I'm worried about them developing MIS-C and also the South African strain - I know that not enough is known yet but I'm worried exposure to a sufficiently 'different' strain could trigger something.

But didn't the number of children with Covid also increase over the same period? I'm hoping the increase in admissions is just a proportionate increase in line with the number of cases.

Without all the data it's impossible to say and I don't think posts like this help anyone really.

Are you concerned your children will develop MIS-C or in general? If it’s the former, then I think you’re letting anxiety get the better of you. Very few people in the world have proven second Covid infection.

@Haenow

Are you concerned your children will develop MIS-C or in general? If it’s the former, then I think you’re letting anxiety get the better of you. Very few people in the world have proven second Covid infection.

I'm concerned my children will, and also concerned in general.

MIS-C is not COVID re-infection. It's an inflammatory response weeks after a COVID infection.

I hate the anxiety word being bandied around. Anyone who is concerned or worried is 'anxious' and 'need to see your GP about your anxiety'

@Lindy2

But didn't the number of children with Covid also increase over the same period? I'm hoping the increase in admissions is just a proportionate increase in line with the number of cases.

Without all the data it's impossible to say and I don't think posts like this help anyone really.

I hope it's proportionate. I really hope so. The scientists and epidemiologists are likely working hard to find out.

I don't think it's helpful to stick heads in the sand either.