Rajeev Choudhury

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of corticosteroids in children up to 18 years of age who need to be hospitalised with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C) condition, in addition to given treatment and care in its updated guidelines.

The recommendation comes following the availability of three observational studies, pooling data from 885 patients in total, a statement released by the organisation said.

“In hospitalised children aged 0–18 who meet a standard case definition for MIS-C, we suggest using corticosteroids in addition to supportive care (rather than either IVIG plus supportive care, or supportive care alone) (conditional recommendation, very low certainty), the guidelines noted.

“In hospitalised children aged 0–18 who meet both a standard case definition for MIS-C and diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease, we suggest using corticosteroids in addition to standard of care for Kawasaki disease (conditional recommendation, very low certainty),” it added.

Children with MIS-C need specialised care, and may require to be admitted to intensive care, the statement informed.

Even though MIS-C is a serious condition, with the right medical care, children with this condition recover, the guidelines further added.

The most common underlying conditions linked to MIS-C are obesity, chronic lung disease (including asthma), cardiovascular disease and immunosuppression, the statement by WHO stressed.

MIS-C is s a rare yet serious condition among children where some organs and tissues like the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, digestive system, brain, skin or eyes become severely inflamed.

Though the symptom varies depending upon the organ or tissue affected, the emergency warning signs of MIS-C include severe stomach pain, laboured breathing changes in skin colour, and inability to wake up or stay awake, experts say.