COVID-19 associated Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• COVID-19 predominantly causes mild illness in children.
• A subset of pediatric COVID-19 cases can develop Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS).
• PIMS presents with diverse symptoms including fever, gastrointestinal issues, neurological signs, and multiorgan dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the initial cases of critically ill pediatric patients with PIMS in the Czech Republic.
• To highlight the clinical presentation and severity of PIMS in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Case series reporting on three critically ill pediatric patients.
• Clinical data collection including symptoms, disease course, and management.

Main Results:

• Three pediatric patients presented with severe PIMS following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• Patients exhibited symptoms such as high fever, gastrointestinal distress, neurological involvement, and multiorgan dysfunction.
• These represent the first documented critically ill pediatric PIMS cases in the Czech Republic.

Conclusions:

• PIMS is a significant, albeit rare, complication of COVID-19 in children requiring intensive care.
• Early recognition and management are crucial for pediatric patients with severe PIMS.
• This report underscores the importance of monitoring for PIMS in pediatric COVID-19 cases.