A teenage boy, who reportedly had no underlying health conditions, has died from a new inflammatory disease linked to coronavirus.
The 14-year-old died at London's Evelina Children’s Hospital where more than 40 children have now been treated for the "hyper inflammatory" disease after potentially contracting Covid-19.
Seven of the first eight children, aged four to 14, who were treated - required the use of a ventilator, MirrorOnline reports.
The “cluster” of cases was unearthed in south east London - mainly in the Woolwich and Southwark areas of the capital.
Doctors who treated the youngsters said the condition is similar to Kawasaki disease - a rare inflammatory disease which mainly affects children under the age of five.
Symptoms include high temperatures, swelling and a red rash with patients needing immediate hospital treatment.
Hospitals nationwide have been alerted to what experts describe as a “new phenomenon” linked to coronavirus.
Dr Sara Hanna, the Evelina’s medical director, said: “We probably saw the first case in the middle of March. We had a child admitted with something very like Kawasaki – a bit like something we call toxic shock syndrome.
“In the last two weeks, we have just seen this cluster of children where some of them look very like Kawasaki. They have a high persistent fever, they have got red eyes, they have got a rash, they have got swollen hands and feet.”
Doctors said blood tests were not testing positive for the virus in children, but other indicators were “remarkably similar” to those seen in adults with Covid-19.
Antibodies linked to Covid-19 were later found in about half the children.
And Dr Hanna described the timing of the outbreak of the disease as “suspicious”.
Dr Hanna said it was vital for children to wash their hands regularly and urged parents not to delay seeking medical help if a child becomes ill.
