Experts have expressed concerns over the impact Covid-19 has on children - even months after they have been diagnosed with the virus.
We told how Jack Fair, a fit and healthy 10-year-old with no underlying health conditions, had to be put in a medically induced coma after he suffered severe symptoms from a Kawasaki-like illness.
After spending five days inside an intensive care unit, doctors said that his condition may have been caused by a previous asymptomatic bout of coronavirus a month before.
Researchers have been studying the impact that Covid-19 has on younger people throughout the pandemic.
Around 200 children in England are said to have also come down with the same condition during the ongoing health crisis.
Imperial College London has referred to the condition as Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 - otherwise known as PIMS-TS.
The inflammatory syndrome is said to have some similar symptoms to Kawasaki disease - which normally affects children under the age of five and can cause complications to blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Experts say that PIMS-TS can result in a fever, inflammation and organ dysfunction.
A number of children have also suffered abdominal pain, developed shock, vomiting and diarrhoea.
It also appears that it is likely to affect older children compared to Kawasaki disease - with the average age of patients being around nine years old.
Early research indicates that the condition can be attributed to Covid-19, but experts cannot say for certain.
Imperial College London scientists studied 58 children who had been admitted to hospital with the condition.
A total of 45 had evidence of current or past infection of coronavirus.
Researchers say the emergence of a new inflammatory condition during the pandemic is unlikely to be a coincidence.
Dr Elizabeth Whittaker, of Imperial College London, said: “The new condition, PIMS-TS, is extremely rare but it can make a child very ill, so it’s important to characterise the disease properly so we can provide close monitoring and the best treatment.
“For any parents worried about their children, I would urge them to follow their usual instincts – whatever would normally prompt you to visit your GP or A&E with your child still applies here.”
Health officials in Scotland say they are keeping a close eye on the condition.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “We are aware of a small number of cases in the UK, involving children, who have become seriously unwell with Covid-19 like symptoms.
“While serious complications in children related to Covid-19 are very rare, our clinicians are fully aware of the presenting features of this syndrome and are able to give children and young people the right care as fast as possible.”
