What is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)? - Children's National

Please note: As we continue to learn more about COVID-19, the information in this article may change. You can find our most up-to-date information about coronavirus here.

If you've been keeping up with the news lately, you've probably heard about an illness called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) that's affecting children who have had COVID-19. Doctors and researchers are still trying to learn about this disease, but here's what we know so far.

Symptoms of MIS-C

MIS-C is a condition in which different body parts become inflamed, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, gastrointestinal tract, skin or eyes. Children with MIS-C can have a variety of symptoms, including:

• Fever
• Abdominal Pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Neck Pain
• Rash
• Bloodshot Eyes
• Feeling Extra Tired

If your child experiences the following more severe versions of MIS-C symptoms, you should seek emergency care immediately:

• Trouble breathing
• Pain or pressure in the chest that does not go away
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin
• Severe abdominal pain

What causes MIS-C?

We do not yet know what causes MIS-C, however many children with MIS-C have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). We also don't know if children with certain health conditions are more likely to get MIS-C than others. Fortunately, unlike COVID-19, MIS-C does not appear to be contagious. MIS-C is also a relatively rare condition - less than 10 percent of patients that test positive for COVID-19 contract MIS-C.

The link between MIS-C and COVID-19 is evolving every day, and pediatricians and researchers at Children's National Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are working tirelessly to understand its current and long-term effects on children.

While MIS-C is a serious condition, with proper medical care most children are able to recover. If you have concerns your child is suffering from MIS-C, please call your primary care provider.