A 9-year-old boy has died in France from a Kawasaki-like disease believed to be linked to Covid-19, his doctor said on Friday. This is not the first death for such disease as there are child fatalities in New York and London too.
The child died after a “neurological injury related to a cardiac arrest”, said Fabrice Michel, head of the paediatric intensive care unit at La Timone hospital in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille. He was tested positive for Covid-19, received treatment at the hospital for 7 days and died on Saturday.
In the last three weeks, several countries have reported cases of children affected by an inflammatory disease with symptoms similar to those of a rare condition, Kawasaki’s disease. Scientists believe it is linked to Covid-19.
A London children’s hospital said on Wednesday that a 14-year-old boy with no underlying health conditions had died from the disease and had tested positive for Covid-19.
In New York, Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that 3 children in the state had died and more than 100 cases were being investigated.
While in France, there is 125 reported cases between Mar 1 to 12, according to the country’s public health agency. The patients’ ages ranged from 1 to 14.
Inflammation of blood vessels and cardiac damage are “much more pronounced” in cases suspected of being linked to COVID-19 compared with classic Kawasaki disease, France’s public health agency said Thursday.
Symptoms include a high fever, rashes, abdominal pain, conjunctivitis and a red or swollen tongue. Paediatric doctor stressed that the disease is rare. Children should see a doctor if they have fever and associated symptoms for more than two days.
Source : NST