First Tunisian Cluster Admissions of Critically Ill Patients with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new emerging severe disease that is temporally related to previous exposure to coronavirus infection disease (COVID-19). AIM: To describe the clinical features, laboratory findings, therapies, and outcomes for the first Tunisian cluster admissions of critically ill children with severe MIS-C. METHODS: Retrospective study conducted from November 01 to November 30, 2020 According to the WHO definition case, we included eight children aged less than 15 years who were admitted to our pediatric intensive care and met MIS-C criteria. We reviewed all patients’ medical records to collect demographic and clinical data, severity scores, laboratory test results, echocardiographic findings, treatment, and outcomes. RESULTS: The median age was 8 years (IQR: 4–10years). All children were previously fit and well. Seven patients were boys. Known exposure to COVID-19 was reported in 4 cases. Fever and gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in all cases. Five patients had marked abdominal pain and were examined by the surgeon for possible appendicitis. Seven patients had diarrhea. On examination, we found rash (n=7), conjunctivitis (n=7), cheilitis (n=5), and meningism (n=3). We reported cardiac dysfunction in 7 cases and shock with hypotension in 3 cases. All patients received immunoglobulins, methylprednisolone, and a low dose of aspirin. No deaths occurred. CONCLUSION: We reported here the first Tunisian cluster admissions of 8 critically ill children with MIS-C to highlight the increase of a new severe emerging disease with evidence of prior COVID-19 infection in older children.