children-covid-19

Are Children Major COVID-19 Spreaders? Evidence is Mixed But Leans Against School Closures

It’s an understandable concern based on past experiences with other viral infections, such as influenza and measles, where children are known to be significant transmitters. However, according to several recent publications, infected children are less significant spreaders of COVID-19 and their own source of infection may more likey be symptomatic or pre-symptomatic adults. Adults who…

COVID-19 Illness in Children

“Mysterious” COVID-19 Illness in Children – Not Such a Mystery After All by Dr. Bird

Many of you have reached out over the past few days with questions about recent reports in the press about a “mysterious” inflammatory condition associated with COVID-19 among children. Indeed, there is an apparent uptick in the incidence of what is now being called “pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome potentially associated with COVID-19” (PIMS).  Though dubbed by the press as mysterious, it is an illness that shares features with several well-known pediatric inflammatory syndromes (most notably Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock) and there is widespread consensus in the pediatric community as to what early identification and treatment should look like.