Dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology
• Immunology

Background:

• Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious complication of COVID-19.
• Cutaneous manifestations are frequently observed in MIS-C but remain poorly characterized.
• Distinguishing MIS-C from Kawasaki disease is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and characterize the dermatologic manifestations in pediatric patients diagnosed with MIS-C.
• To analyze the frequency and types of skin findings in MIS-C cases.
• To emphasize the need for detailed dermatologic descriptions in MIS-C research.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 34 case reports and case series.
• Inclusion of data from 736 pediatric patients with MIS-C associated with COVID-19.
• Analysis of documented cutaneous manifestations and their morphologies.

Main Results:

• Cutaneous manifestations were reported in 57% (417 of 736) of MIS-C patients.
• "Rash" was the most common descriptor, noted in nearly half of cases.
• A wide spectrum of lesion types (polymorphic, maculopapular, urticarial, petechial, etc.) were documented.

Conclusions:

• Skin findings are a significant feature of MIS-C in children.
• Detailed dermatologic descriptions are essential for a comprehensive understanding of MIS-C.
• Further characterization of these skin manifestations may provide insights into disease pathogenesis.