This week, a mysterious new illness has hit the headlines after doctors were sent an urgent alert about it.
The illness may or may not be related to coronavirus, and is believed to have affected at least 12 children across the UK so far.
Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director said it was ‘too early to say’ whether there’s a link between the illness and coronavirus.
However, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said that a link was ‘entirely plausible.’
The illness has three key symptoms, and is similar to Kawasaki Disease and toxic shock syndrome, according to the alert.
The alert to doctors said: “The cases have in common overlapping features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki Disease with blood parameters consistent with severe COVID-19 in children.
“Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms have been a common feature as has cardiac inflammation.”
Kawasaki disease causes the blood vessels to become inflamed and swollen, which can lead to complications in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart, according to the NHS.
It explained: “The characteristic symptoms are a high temperature that lasts for 5 days or more, with: a rash, swollen glands in the neck, dry, cracked lips, red fingers or toes, red eyes.”
Meanwhile, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by bacteria getting into the body and releasing harmful toxins.
It's often associated with tampon use in women, but can affect anyone of any age – including men and children.
The NHS explained: “The symptoms of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) start suddenly and get worse quickly.
“They include: a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, such as a headache, feeling cold, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body, a sore throat and a cough, feeling and being sick, diarrhoea, a widespread sunburn-like rash, lips, tongue and the whites of the eyes turning a bright red, dizziness or fainting, difficulty breathing, confusion.”
While the alert highlights similarities between these conditions and the new illness, it remains unclear whether all of these symptoms are also seen in the new illness.
