Study Finds Covid Linked Heart Inflammation In Children Resolve Rapidly With Steroids, Cuts Hospitalization Timing

After recovering from Covid-19 infection, it is important to stay cautious. The virus is now causing illness in children. However, infected children are suffering from mild illnesses. But they need supervised care to avert further risk. Studies have found that children go on to develop MIS-C. It is a condition where body parts become inflamed. This could affect the functioning of the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain as well. However, a new study has said that heart inflammation in children may resolve rapidly. The study was conducted by Columbia University and New York-Presbyterian researchers. They said that heart problems in children infected with Covid-19 lasted for a few months.

Researchers said that Covid causes a spectrum of illnesses. Many kids with Coved infection are asymptomatic or show fewer symptoms. Only a few kids are critically ill. These kids are mainly with MIS-C condition who were admitted to the ICU. The study involved a detailed analysis of 45 patients with MIS-C condition. Around 80 percent of them earlier faced some type of cardiac dysfunction. Nearly 25 kids showed moderate to severe heart-related abnormalities. They also suffered difficulty in heart to pump and leaking valves. Two-thirds of the kids during the hospitalization experienced a fall in the number of white blood cells. This was, however, temporary. The majority of the infected children showed an increase in heart inflammation.

These children were given steroids along with other treatments. They responded quickly than expected. This reduced the timing of hospitalization. They were discharged in just five days. Researchers found that immunologic abnormalities for the heart returned to normal level in few weeks. These abnormalities even resolve after about four months. They, however, recommended cardiac MRI after six months to kids with more than mild dysfunction on cardiac ultrasound. The latest findings are a relief that children with Covid-related heart inflammation are recovered rapidly. The study also said that the overall risk of Covid infection-causing severity ad deaths in children is extremely low.