Clinical Profile and Short-Term Outcome of Children With SARS-CoV-2 Related Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) Treated With Pulse Methylprednisolone.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical profile and outcome of children with MIS-C treated with methylprednisolone pulse therapy and /or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). METHOD: This prospective observational study included children satisfying CDC MIS-C criteria admitted from September to November, 2020. Primary outcome was persistence of fever beyond 36 hours after start of immunomodulation therapy. Secondary outcomes included duration of ICU stay, mortality, need for repeat immunomodulation, time to normalization of CRP and persistence of coronary abnormalities at 2 weeks. RESULTS: Study population included 32 patients with MIS-C with median (IQR) age of 7.5 (5-9.5) years. The proportion of children with gastrointestinal symptoms was 27 (84%), cardiac was 29 (91%) and coronary artery dilatation was 11 (34%). Pulse methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin were used as first line therapy in 26 (81%), and 6 (19%) patients, respec-tively. Treatment failure was observed in 2/26 patients in methylprednisolone group and 2/6 patients in IVIG group. C-reactive protein levels less than 60mg/L by day 3 was seen in 17(74%) in methylprednisolone group and 2 (25%) in IVIG group (P=0.014). There was no mortality. At 2 weeks follow-up coronary artery dilatation persisted in 4 in methylprednisolone group and 1 in IVIG group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with SARS-CoV-2 related MIS-C, methylprednisolone pulse therapy was associated with favorable short-term outcomes.

WHO 2009 Warning Signs as Predictors of Time Taken for Progression to Severe Dengue in Children.

OBJECTIVES: To identify WHO 2009 warning signs that can predict time taken for progression to severe dengue in a pediatric population. DESIGN: Prospective analytical study over 1 year and 2 months. SETTING: Tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: 350 children aged 1 mo-12 y with serologically confirmed dengue without co-morbidities/co-infections; conse-cutive sampling. PROCEDURE: At admission, clinical and laboratory details were noted. Disease progression, time of onset of each warning sign, hematocrit, and platelet counts were recorded daily till discharge/ death. If progressing to severe dengue, its time of onset was noted. Time to event analysis with Log Rank test, Kaplan Meier plots and Cox Proportional Hazards Model was done. OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome was time interval from onset of first warning sign to onset of severe dengue (defined as per WHO 2009 guidelines). Predictors were WHO 2009 warning signs: abdominal pain, lethargy, persistent vomiting, mucosal bleed, clinical fluid accumulation, hepatomegaly >2 cm, hematocrit ≥0.40 and platelet count <100x109/L. RESULTS: Among 350 children followed up completely till discharge/death, 90 developed severe dengue (event) while 260 did not (censored). Median age of study population was 7.75 y. Clinical fluid accumulation [(P=0.002, Hazard Ratio (HR) 2.19, 95% CI 1.33-3.60)] and hematocrit ≥0.40 [(P=0.009, HR (95%CI) 1.715, (1.13-2.60)] were significant in univariate analysis. Final multivariate model includes clinical fluid accumulation [(P=0.02, HR (95%CI) 1.89, (1.116-3.202)], hematocrit ≥0.40 (P=0.07), mucosal bleed (P=0.56) and persistent vomiting (P=0.32). CONCLUSION: WHO warning signs that predict time taken for progression to severe dengue in children include clinical fluid accumulation, hematocrit ≥0.40, persistent vomiting and mucosal bleed. Study results have implications in policy making and practice guidelines to triage children attending a health care facility with or without warning signs.