NHS doctors have been warned about the possible link between the coronavirus outbreak and inflammatory symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on April 27 that he was ‘very worried’ about the new “inflammatory condition”, as top doctor Prof Chris Whitty said it’s plausible the new condition is triggered by Covid-19.
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The disease is also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
According to the NHS, the disease primarily affects children under five years of age.
The blood vessels become swollen which can lead to complications in the coronary arteries (the blood vessels which supplies blood to the heart).
Kawasaki disease can cause aneurysms which can lead to a heart attack and heart disease.
In less likely cases, internal bleeding can be caused when the aneurysm bursts.
Each year, an estimated eight in every 100,000 children develop Kawasaki disease, according to figures from the NHS.
Around 25 per cent of cases go on to experience heart complications.
It can result in fatality in about two to three per cent of cases if not treated.
The causes of Kawasaki disease is currently unknown.
The NHS states that a child may be likely to be affected if they inherit certain genes from their parents.
Kawasaki disease is not contagious.
NHS doctors received an alert, this week, warning of a rise in children ending up in intensive care with a life-threatening inflammatory syndrome, similar to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease.
At least 12 children are thought to have been left fighting for life with the new condition, the Guardian reported.
Doctors have warned that cases features symptoms including tummy pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and heart inflammation.
Prof Chris Whitty, England’s Chief Medical Officer, said it “entirely plausible” this new and mysterious condition is linked to Covid-19.
NHS bosses, in recognising the severity of the new condition, has issued an urgent alert to doctors informing them to refer any such cases to the hospital.
“There is growing concern that a [Covid-19] related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK,” according to the alert sent to doctors in North London.
It adds: “Over the last three weeks, there has been an apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK.”
There a few signs which suggest a person may have Kawasaki disease.
These include:
Although it mainly affects children, Kawasaki disease can also be found in adults.
The chances of this, however, is typically very low.
If these symptoms are found in children, the advice is to seek urgent medical attention.
