Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using Poly(I:C) to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
09:09

Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using Poly(I:C) to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring

Published on: August 17, 2022

SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection and Risk of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A Case-Control Study

Noémie Schiever1, Léa Lenglart2,3, Corinne Levy4,5,6

  • 1From the Service of Pediatrics, Department Women-Mother-Child, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|May 20, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) appears less likely after a second SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the first. This study suggests a potentially lower risk of MIS-C following reinfection, though further research is needed for conclusive evidence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a severe postinfectious complication of SARS-CoV-2.
  • MIS-C incidence may be declining with increasing SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rates.
  • The study aimed to compare MIS-C risk after primary SARS-CoV-2 infection versus reinfection.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if the risk of developing MIS-C differs between primary SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection.
  • To investigate the association between SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and the incidence of MIS-C in children.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, international, matched case-control study (September 2021 - April 2022).
  • 180 MIS-C cases matched 1:1 with controls with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • McNemar's test and conditional logistic regression used to compare MIS-C risk.

Main Results:

  • No MIS-C cases occurred after documented SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.
  • 3.9% of controls (acute infection) had a documented reinfection.
  • A suggestive but not statistically significant lower odds of MIS-C after reinfection was observed (OR=0.067, P=0.064; adjusted OR=0.183, P=0.093).

Conclusions:

  • MIS-C predominantly occurs after initial SARS-CoV-2 infections.
  • Evidence suggests a potentially lower risk of MIS-C following SARS-CoV-2 reinfection, but this finding was not statistically conclusive.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID- 19-relatedPIMS- TSSARS-CoV- 2pediatric multisystem inflammatory diseasepediatrics

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