Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children: a pediatric hospitalist’s conversation

Whitney Bossert, MD
Conditions
February 23, 2022
19 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Them: “I have never heard of this.”

Me: “That’s OK, let me explain what is going on. Your child has a condition called multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, which we call MIS-C. We see this condition after a COVID infection where the whole body becomes inflamed, causing fevers. You get inflammation in the small blood vessels of your eyes and skin, which is why your son has red eyes and a rash. You get inflammation in your intestines, which is why he has abdominal pain and vomiting. You get it in your internal organs, and we can see that as kidney and liver injury on your son’s lab test. You get it in the brain, which is why your son is so sleepy and not acting like his normal self.

And the most worrisome is when you get inflammation in your heart. This is why your son has low blood pressure right now because his heart is not functioning properly, meaning it isn’t strong enough to pump the blood out to the rest of the body. Since learning about MIS-C, the good news is that we have found some therapies that work to reduce this inflammation. The one we use first here is IVIG, which stands for intravenous immune globulin. This is considered a blood product because it is taken from a pool of people who have donated blood, and then we take their antibodies and will give them to your son to try and reduce the inflammation that is happening in his body.

This medication does have risks. It can cause a fever, lower his blood pressure, have a severe allergic reaction to it, and rarely cause aseptic meningitis or irritation around the brain. We can also use steroids to help reduce inflammation and may need to use an anticoagulant or blood thinner medication to ensure he doesn’t develop blood clots. I will do my best to support his blood pressure with fluids, but it’s possible there will come a time when he will need additional medications to support his blood pressure and to help his heart function, and if that happens, we will have to transfer him to the ICU. If he can stay on the floor, we will consult the cardiology, hematology, and infectious disease doctors to help care for him. What questions to do have so far?”

Them: Blank stare

Me: “Don’t worry, you are in the right place, and we will take great care of your son. I also understand that you have other kids at home eligible but unvaccinated for COIVD. We are finding the vaccines to be incredibly safe for kids and about 90 percent effective in protecting them from MIS-C. As a pediatrician and mom, this diagnosis is very scary and the reason I chose to get my kids vaccinated. Please consider it for your other kiddos.”

Repeat.

Whitney Bossert is a pediatric hospitalist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The orphans of COVID: Who will care for them now?

February 23, 2022 Kevin 1
…
Next

Break the rules of health care with technology

February 23, 2022 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The orphans of COVID: Who will care for them now?
Next Post >
Break the rules of health care with technology

Related Posts

  • When celebrities attack children with food allergies

    Lianne Mandelbaum
  • How to combat imposter syndrome in medical school

    Margaret Hogan Smoot
  • Bullying immigrant children in the name of politics

    Linda Girgis, MD
  • A disturbing study about children and guns

    Christopher Johnson, MD
  • Separating children at the border is a danger to their health

    Oscar J. Benavidez, MD
  • Imposter syndrome and COVID: a medical student perspective

    Kimia Zarabian and Mai Hasan

More in Conditions

  • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

    Maria Iliakova, MD
  • Physician autonomy and patient interactions in corporate health care

    Michele Luckenbaugh
  • Vague criteria can lead to misdiagnosis and prison

    L. Joseph Parker, MD
  • U.S. maternal mortality crisis: a deep dive

    Alan Lindemann, MD
  • Contemporary weight loss: Unveiling the quest for elusive elixir

    Osmund Agbo, MD
  • Why patients write: stress relief, self-care, and sharing experiences

    R. Lynn Barnett
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 1 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Higher Suicide Risk in Nurses, Other Health Workers
  • COVID Drug and New Mutations; Costco Offers $29 Care; Trump Unmasked Over Bronzer
  • Long COVID Rare in U.S. Kids, Has Affected 7% of Adults
  • Vascular Conditions Offer No Clarity on Pollution-Dementia Link
  • FDA Staff Voice Serious Concerns About Investigational ALS Cell Therapy

Meeting Coverage

  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • ERS Roundup: Cell Transplant Boosts Lung Function in COPD Patients
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • Balancing motherhood and medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • Misunderstandings about opioid use disorder

      Amy Baxter, MD | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

      Eleanor Menzin, MD | Physician
    • 5 things to know about weight from a bariatric surgeon

      Maria Iliakova, MD | Conditions
    • Out-of-office infusions in oncology care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

      Curtis G. Graham, MD | Physician
    • Using the language of art to create work-life balance

      Sarah Samaan, MD | Physician
    • Levamisole is good for your dog, but bad for your cocaine

      Robert Killeen, MD | Meds

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children: a pediatric hospitalist’s conversation
1 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...