key: cord-1016325-nuj2z9gt
authors: Didel, Siyaram; Khera, Daisy; Kumar, Prawin; Goyal, Jagdish Prasad
title: COVID-19 in a Young Infant — A Fatal Multisystem Inflammatory Disorder
date: 2021-01-06
journal: Indian J Pediatr
DOI: 10.1007/s12098-020-03647-8
sha: cf96e00f793af6c77535bf9afceef6edc86374c1
doc_id: 1016325
cord_uid: nuj2z9gt

nan

To the Editor: A previously healthy 2-mo-old infant presented with fever, inspiratory stridor, and multiple episodes of focal clonic seizures. He was in compensated shock with respiratory distress and had altered sensorium at admission for which he was appropriately managed. He tested positive for COVID-19 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). His baseline investigations were: hemoglobin 8.3 g/dL, total leukocyte count (TLC) 21,260/mm 3 (N-79/L-14), platelet 5.5 lakhs, calcium 5.71 mg/dL, phosphorus 7.16 mg/dL, vitamin D < 4 ng/mL, parathyroid hormone (PTH) 246 pg/mL, elevated procalcitonin (4.04 ng/mL), interleukin (IL) 6 (57 pg/mL), ferritin (536 ng/mL) and normal hs C-reactive protein (0.10 mg/dL). Chest radiograph showed bilateral infiltrates. His cerebrospinal fluid analysis was normal but ultrasound cranium showed meningeal thickening. His clinical and laboratory profile fulfilled the criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). He was given injection dexamethasone and was planned for injection Remdesivir but could not be given due to transaminitis. Due to initial clinical improvement on conservative management, he was not given steroids and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) but respiratory distress persisted due to COVID pneumonia which later worsened and he succumbed to his illness. His final diagnosis was COVID-19 pneumonia with pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome [arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2 )/ fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) = 107] with hypotensive shock with meningoencephalitis with multisystem inflammatory syndrome with hypocalcemia with vitamin-D deficiency.

There is very limited data available regarding manifestations of COVID-19 in young infants. As per Wu et al. in 72,314 COVID-19 cases, children comprised only less than 1% and out of this, 20% cases comprised young infants [1] . Young infants can have more critical presentation compared to older children [2, 3] . Many cases of MIS-C or atypical Kawasaki-like illness have been reported in previously healthy children in older age group after SARS-CoV-2 infection [4] , but reports in infants are scarce. This case highlights MIS-C in infants and stresses the need for timely appropriate management.

Conflict of Interest None.

Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72,314 cases from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

SARS-CoV-2 infection in children

Novel coronavirus infection in hospitalized infants under 1 year of age in China

An outbreak of severe Kawasaki-like disease at the Italian epicentre of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic: an observational cohort study

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