PEDIATRIC CONDITION LINKED TO COVID-19

Dr. Monica Bharel, Massachusetts public health commissioner, recently announced 9 suspected cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) in Massachusetts. PMIS is a condition associated with COVID-19 seen in children. Symptoms include fever, rash, red eyes, cracked lips, swollen extremities and lymph nodes, sometimes accompanied by abdominal pain, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. The public health commissioner is urging parents and pediatricians to look for these symptoms in anyone under the age of 21 who has been infected with COVID-19 or has had any contact with someone infected with COVID-19. Health care providers are ordered to report any new or suspected cases to the Massachusetts Public Health Department to help public health efforts to limit spread of the syndrome.