SARS-CoV-2 paediatric inflammatory syndrome

Evans, Claire; Davies, Patrick

The novel post SARS-COV2 Paediatric Inflammatory Syndrome, first recognised in April 2020, took worldwide clinicians by surprise. There rapidly followed a plethora of case definitions, nomenclatures, descriptive papers, and guidelines on treatment. There has been controversy around this condition. Is it really new? Is it an atypical form of a known disease? How should we communicate and report such cases? What is the pathogenesis? Which treatments are given, and which are effective? What are the short and long-term outcomes? We are all learning fast. The clinical and immunological patterns seen are unique. There are significant differences in both presentation and pathogenesis to any known condition, including Kawasaki’s disease. This implies that treatments are not necessarily transferrable: and indeed it is unknown which treatments are effective at all. Outcomes, as far as are known, are good, but long term data is lacking. The international cooperation has been an example of how today’s connected medicine can be a force for good, however calm assessment of evidence remains necessary to ensure the best outcomes for our patients. This short article identifies what we have learnt from the first surge of COVID-19 cases about paediatric inflammatory syndrome and how it affects children.