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Seattle Children’s treats two kids with COVID-19 complications

SEATTLE —

The children were diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

The patients were both treated at Seattle Children’s. One of them is Anthony Lawson, 13, a Bothell eighth grader. Lawson was released from the hospital earlier this week after recovering from critical complications.

The health department says the other patient is under age 10 and has also recovered enough to be discharged from the hospital.

The COVID-19 complication was first identified in the United Kingdom in April. Children in New York were diagnosed earlier this month. Now Washington says it has two cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory last Thursday with a case definition after increased reports of healthy children presenting with a severe inflammatory syndrome with Kawasaki disease-like symptoms.

“In Washington, we are tracking this issue closely and working with local health departments and providers to learn more,” said Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer for DOH. “Early last week, we asked all health care providers in the state to be on the lookout and immediately report possible cases to local health authorities.”

According to the CDC, the case definition is a child under 21 years of age, who has a fever, laboratory evidence of inflammation and severe illness involving more than two organs that require hospitalization. Doctors have no other plausible diagnoses, but the patients usually have a positive COVID-19 test or are exposed to a confirmed case within four weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.

“Seattle Children’s is committed to caring for our region’s most medically complex children, and our team of specialists is well-equipped to care for children presenting with this newly identified syndrome,” said Dr. John McGuire, chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Seattle Children’s. “Although it remains very uncommon, parents should call their primary care providers if their children are showing new or unusual symptoms, such as a persistent fever or headache, abdominal pain with or without diarrhea, fatigue and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath.”