Fears mysterious coronavirus-linked illness that has killed children in the U.S could infect kids in Australia as local health boss calls for urgent research

  • Health experts fear a rare coronavirus-linked illness could infect Aussie kids
  • Kawasaki is a rare inflammatory syndrome that has been linked to coronavirus
  • The Australian Department of Health has been closely monitoring Kawasaki
  • In New York City alone, 15 children were hospitalised between April 17 and May 1 
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Alana Mazzoni For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

Australian health experts fear a mysterious coronavirus-linked illness that has killed children overseas could infect kids Down Under.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has commissioned urgent medical research into Kawasaki disease - a rare inflammatory illness that's been dubbed 'Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome' in the U.S. 

Kawasaki disease is the closest known illness to PMSIS - which has developed in nearly 100 children in the United States and killed five in the past two months.  

Professor Murphy called on Australia's top paediatric experts to prepare a report on the illness, which will be addressed at the next National Cabinet meeting on Friday.   

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy commissioned urgent medical research into Kawasaki disease - a rare inflammatory disease that's been dubbed 'Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy commissioned urgent medical research into Kawasaki disease - a rare inflammatory disease that's been dubbed 'Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome

On her last day in the hospital, a test for coronavirus came back positive. Pictured: Zara in the hospital

Links between coronavirus and Kawasaki disease have sparked concerns across the globe, and doctors are exploring the possibility that the virus could trigger the inflammatory illness in children. Pictured: a baby from California with Kawasaki disease 

The Australian Department of Health has been closely monitoring international reports and research into the mysterious disease.

United States authorities believe PMSIS is associated with COVID-19.    

Overseas, the illness has been seen in children who have tested positive to coronavirus, as well as those who haven't contracted COVID-19. 

In New York City alone, 15 children were hospitalised between April 17 and May 1, and five of them have required mechanical ventilation.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said Australia hasn't seen any cases of PMSIS yet. 

'The Chief Medical Officer continues to engage with paediatric specialists nationally on this matter and Australia is in a good position to pick up an early signal of increased cases of Kawasaki disease over and above background seasonal variation,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels and affects mostly children under five years old.

The inflammation can weaken or damage the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood.

This can lead to aneurysms, heart attacks or heart failure, which is why Kawasaki disease is known as one of the leading causes of heart disease in children, according to the American Heart Association.

Treatment usually comes in the form of aspirin for the fever and rash and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy - a treatment made from donated blood - to reduce the risk of coronary artery abnormalities from developing. 

WHAT IS KAWASAKI DISEASE AND TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME? 

KAWASAKI DISEASE

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes inflammation in the walls of the blood vessels and affects mostly children under five years old.

The inflammation can weaken the coronary arteries, which supply the heart with blood. This can lead to aneurysms and heart attacks.

The condition affects eight children out of every 100,000 and statistics show it is fatal in three per cent of cases that go untreated. 

WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE?

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually develop in three phases over a six-week period.

The first signs are a fever and a rash in the first few weeks, followed by the eyes of children becoming red and swollen. 

It can also cause the lips to dry up and crack, a sore throat, swollen lymph glands and the tongue to become red. 

The second phase of Kawasaki disease often causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, joint pain and jaundice. 

In the third phase, symptoms tend to disappear but children 'may still have a lack of energy and become easily tired during this time'. 

TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

Toxic shock syndrome is a highly dangerous bacterial infection - but it can be misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to other illnesses and because it is so rare.

It occurs when usually harmless staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus bacteria, which live on the skin, invade the bloodstream and release dangerous toxins.

TSS has a mortality rate of between five and 15 per cent. And reoccurs in 30-to-40 per cent of cases.

Using tampons is a particular risk factor for TSS. 

WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES IT CAUSE?

  • a high temperature
  • flu-like symptoms
  • feeling and being sick
  • diarrhoea
  • a widespread sunburn-like rash
  • lips, tongue and the whites of the eyes turning a bright red
  • dizziness or fainting
  • difficulty breathing
  • confusion
Advertisement

Experts hold fears for children over mysterious coronavirus-linked Kawasaki disease

Comments 0

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.