Iowa has confirmed a second case of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.KCCI first broke the story of a positive case in eastern Iowa on Friday. State epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati said there are now two cases of PMIS, as the syndrome is known, in eastern Iowa. “This is an example of a place where we need to learn more,” Pedati said. “A very small portion of children with COVID are the ones who will suffer with this,” said Nivedita Krishnan, the medical director of the pediatric urgent care at MercyOne Des Moines.PMIS is rare but can be deadly. Doctors said the syndrome seems to develop weeks after a child was possibly infected with COVID-19.”Basically, there is an inciting infection that then triggers the body to release an entire system inflammatory response,” Krishnan said.The new disease is similar to Kawasaki and toxic shock syndrome. Doctors said the infection can lead to inflammation of the heart muscle and arteries.Pedati said the disease is now a mandatory reportable disease in Iowa.Krishnan told KCCI she hasn’t seen a case of PMIS yet but has tested nearly 100 children for COVID-19. So far, she’s had about 12 test positive for COVID-19, the youngest being 20 months old.
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa has confirmed a second case of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome.
KCCI first broke the story of a positive case in eastern Iowa on Friday. State epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati said there are now two cases of PMIS, as the syndrome is known, in eastern Iowa.
“This is an example of a place where we need to learn more,” Pedati said.
“A very small portion of children with COVID are the ones who will suffer with this,” said Nivedita Krishnan, the medical director of the pediatric urgent care at MercyOne Des Moines.
PMIS is rare but can be deadly. Doctors said the syndrome seems to develop weeks after a child was possibly infected with COVID-19.
“Basically, there is an inciting infection that then triggers the body to release an entire system inflammatory response,” Krishnan said.
The new disease is similar to Kawasaki and toxic shock syndrome. Doctors said the infection can lead to inflammation of the heart muscle and arteries.
Pedati said the disease is now a mandatory reportable disease in Iowa.
Krishnan told KCCI she hasn’t seen a case of PMIS yet but has tested nearly 100 children for COVID-19.
So far, she’s had about 12 test positive for COVID-19, the youngest being 20 months old.
