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The first case study of an infant with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who also was diagnosed and treated for classic Kawasaki disease (KD) highlights the growing need to understand the clinical presentation patterns of the disease.
“Despite the growing number of reported cases there remains a knowledge gap regarding the infectious, epidemiologic and clinical features associated with COVID-19 illness, particularly in the pediatric population,” wrote the authors of the case study published in Hospital Pediatrics.
Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in children can range from asymptomatic to acute upper respiratory tract infection as well as gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory failure, shock, coagulation dysfunction and renal injury in severe cases.
In the case study, a 6-month-old female was thoroughly examined and diagnosed with viral infection on day one of fever. On day 4 of fever, the patient was re-examined and referred for admission for Kawasaki disease evaluation.
Because of fever, congestion and faint opacity chest X-ray findings, she was tested for COVID-19 and admitted to the pediatric floor on day five with classic criteria for Kawasaki disease.
“To our knowledge, this is the first described case of KD with concurrent COVID-19 infection,” the authors wrote.
The report, they said, is intended to inform others caring for pediatric patients affected by COVID-19 as clinical presentation patterns evolve. They also called for more descriptions of the clinical course of pediatric patients.