Two children in western Washington treated for rare inflammatory illness linked to Covid-19

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Two western Washington children have been treated for a rare - and serious - inflammatory condition that's been found in some children and linked to the coronavirus.

According to the state Department of Health, the two patients - one in Snohomish County and one in King County - were both diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with Covid-19.

One patient is under the age of 10 and the other is between 10 and 19 years old. Both were treated at Seattle Children's.

The condition has been reported in at least 110 New York children and in several kids in other states. A few children have died.

Some children may have symptoms resembling Kawasaki disease, a rare condition in children that can cause swelling and heart problems.

Reported cases have all involved children but the CDC said it is unknown if the condition can occur in adults.

“Although it remains very uncommon, parents should call their primary care providers if their children are showing new or unusual symptoms, such as a persistent fever or headache, abdominal pain with or without diarrhea, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath," said Dr. John McGuire, chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at Seattle Children’s.

Public health officials said they will not release any additional information about the Washington state cases, citing privacy concerns.

Doctors should be on the lookout for the condition and report suspected cases to local or state health departments. It should be suspected in all deaths in children who had evidence of COVID-19 infection, the CDC said.

Children are less likely than adults to develop COVID-19 and their illnesses usually are less severe although they can spread the disease without showing symptoms.