More than 40 children treated in London for 'hyper inflammatory new disease after seemingly contracting coronavirus'

PA

More than 40 children have been treated in a specialist London hospital for a “hyper inflammatory” new disease after apparently contracting coronavirus, the Standard has been told.

A “cluster” of cases has been detected in South-East London, focusing on Southwark and Woolwich.

One child, a 14-year-old boy with no underlying health problems, has died.

Doctors at Evelina London children’s hospital say the disease is similar to Kawasaki disease, a rare inflammatory disease, and can cause major problems with the heart.

Hospitals across the country have been alerted by NHS England to what Evelina doctors, in an article in The Lancet medical journal, describe as a “new phenomenon” linked to coronavirus.

Dr Sara Hanna, the Evelina’s medical director, told the Standard: “We probably saw the first case in the middle of March. We had a child admitted with something very like Kawasaki – a bit like something we call toxic shock syndrome.

“In the last two weeks, we have just seen this cluster of children where some of them look very like Kawasaki… they have a high persistent fever, they have got red eyes, they have got a rash, they have got swollen hands and feet.”

She said blood tests were not detecting the virus in children but other indicators in the blood were “remarkably similar” to those seen in adults with Covid-19. Antibodies indicating recovery from the virus were later found in about half the children.

She said the timing of the outbreak in terms of a link to coronavirus made it “very suspicious”. She said: “We can’t say for certain it’s related to the virus but it’s difficult to understand how it wouldn’t be.”

The Lancet article reveals the first eight cases at the Evelina involved children aged between four and 14. Seven required ventilation.

Two tested positive for Covid-19, including the deceased teenager in a post mortem, but four of the eight were in households where a parent or grandparent was suspected or confirmed to have had the virus.

Six of the children were of Afro-Caribbean descent, one was Asian and one had Middle Eastern heritage.

Black and ethnic minority children make up the majority of the 40-plus cases but this may reflect the South East London population rather than suggest a genetic link.

Early intervention and anti-inflammatory treatment – with aspirin, steroids and immunoglobulin blood products – can lead to quick recovery, though the long-term outcomes are unknown.

Some children had severe abdominal pain and had undergone operations for suspected appendicitis. Others were in “shock” – with very low blood pressure.

Some have recovered and have been discharged home. Others are recovering in the hospital. Other children with similar symptoms living north of the Thames have been admitted to Great Ormond Street hospital.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast

Dr Hanna said it was vital that children washed their hands regularly and urged parents never to delay seeking medical help if a child became ill.

She said: “We look after a massive population of children – probably about two million. This is a very small number of children, and we do see conditions like this in children that get other infections.

“Overall children are very much less affected by this virus than older people. Detected early and treated, these children are doing extremely well.”