As the prevalence of COVID-19 cases increased in the fall of 2023, so too did the cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that MIS-C incidence—while still quite rare—was highest in late 2020 through early 2021. However, cases rose alongside COVID-19 activity in the general population late last year. Among the 117 MIS-C patients with illness onset in 2023, 68 (58%) had no underlying medical conditions; 58 (50%) required intensive care; 40 (34%) experienced shock; and 31 (27%) experienced cardiac dysfunction. More than 80% (92 of 112) of MIS-C cases occurred in unvaccinated children.
Diagnosis of rare MIS-C: Many patients with MIS-C also meet the criteria for Kawasaki disease. Discover the key differences between the two illnesses from the JUCM archives: Incomplete Kawasaki Disease Clinically Diagnosed From Urgent Care: A Case-Report-Based Review