Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19: Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases in the Federal District, 2020-2022

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile from cases of MIS-C associated with covid-19, in children under 20 years old, residing in the Federal District from 2020 to 2022. This is a retrospective and descriptive study, with data from the REDCap® platform. In this period, there were reported 142 cases of MIS-C associated with covid-19, of which 117 (82.4%) were residents in the Federal District; From them, 85 (72.6%) cases were confirmed, 18 (15.4%) were discarded, 14 (9.9%) had other diagnoses, and one evolved to death (1.2%). Among these confirmed cases, 70 (82.4%) were done by laboratory criteria, 28 (32.9%) were between 5 and 9 years old, 46 (54.1%) were male, 36 (42.4%) from brown race/color, 53 (62.4%) reported having had contact with a suspected case of covid-19, 11 (12.9%) had comorbidities, predominantly genetic disease (7/85), 51 (60%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, 6 (7.1%) required some invasive ventilation, 73 (85.9%) had received intravenous immunoglobulin and 44 (51.8%) corticosteroids. The time from onset of the symptoms to hospitalization ranged from 1 to 34 days (mean 5.5, median 4, SD=4.4); the mean and median length of hospitalization were 10.4 and 7 (1 to 62 days, SD = 14.5). The length of staying in the ICU ranged from 2 to 20 days (mean 6.8, median 6, SD=4.1). Most cases of MIS-C had progressed with good evolution and low lethality. However, it is reinforced the importance of maintaining systematic monitoring, especially in the context of post-covid conditions.