A mysterious coronavirus-related illness has hit the headlines this week, following a surge in cases in children across the UK.
At least 12 British children are thought to have been hit by the illness, which is being described as an ‘inflammatory syndrome’, similar to Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome.
Now, one doctor has warned about some of the painful symptoms linked to the illness.
Sunil Sood, a doctor at Cohen Children’s Medical Centre in New York, has treated five or six children with the illness over the last three weeks.
Speaking to AFP, he said: “They're coming in with sudden drop of blood pressure, or shock, sudden decrease in heart muscle function, which is myocarditis (inflammation of the heart).
"The way we would explain it to parents is every blood vessel in the body is on fire.”
While some children also experience breathing issues as a result of the illness, Dr Sood reassured that these trouble usually aren’t dramatic or severe.
Early cases indicated that the illness likely affects very young children, but Dr Sood explained that he’s also treated teenagers.
He added: "We've all been wondering why these somewhat older children, older than usually seen with Kawasaki disease, are coming in.”
While doctors across the UK were alerted about the illness over the weekend, it remains unclear whether or not it is related to COVID-19.
While some of the children with the syndrome have tested positive for COVID-19 and some appear to have had it in the past, some have not.
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.’
