Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) temporally related to COVID-19: the experience at a pediatric reference hospital in Colombia / Síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica em criança associada à COVID-19: experiência em um hospital pediátrico de referência na Colômbia

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and the different phenotypes of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) temporally related to COVID-19 and to evaluate the risk conditions that favored a greater severity of the disease during a 12-month period at a pediatric reference hospital in Colombia. Methods: A 12-month retrospective observational study of children under the age of 18 years who met criteria for MIS-C. Results: A total of 28 children presented MIS-C criteria. The median age was 7 years. Other than fever (100%) (onset 4 days prior to admission), the most frequent clinical features were gastrointestinal (86%) and mucocutaneous (61%). Notably, 14 (50%) children had Kawasaki-like symptoms. The most frequent echocardiographic abnormalities were pericardial effusion (64%), valvular involvement (68%), ventricular dysfunction (39%), and coronary artery abnormalities (29%). In addition, 75% had lymphopenia. All had at least one abnormal coagulation test. Most received intravenous immunoglobulin (89%), glucocorticoids (82%), vasopressors (54%), and antibiotics (64%). Notably, 61% had a more severe form of the disease and were admitted to an intensive care unit (median 4 days, mean 6 days); the severity predictors were patients with the inflammatory/MIS-C phenotype (OR 26.5; 95%CI 1.40-503.7; p=0.029) and rash (OR 14.7; 95%CI 1.2-178.7; p=0.034). Two patients had macrophage activation syndrome. Conclusions: Coronary artery abnormalities, ventricular dysfunction, and intensive care unit admission were frequent, which needs to highlight the importance of early clinical suspicion.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas e os diferentes fenótipos de crianças com síndrome inflamatória multissistêmica na criança temporalmente relacionada com a COVID-19 (do inglês multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children — MIS-C) e avaliar as condições de risco que favorecem a maior gravidade da doença durante um período de 12 meses em um hospital pediátrico de referência na Colômbia. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de 12 meses de observação de crianças menores de 18 anos que cumprem os critérios para o MIS-C. Resultados: Vinte e oito crianças foram apresentadas com os critérios do MIS-C. A idade média era de sete anos, e 54% eram do sexo masculino. Para além da febre (100%) (com início quatro dias antes da admissão), as características clínicas mais frequentes eram gastrointestinais (86%) e mucocutâneas (61%). Quatorze crianças (50%) apresentavam sintomas semelhantes aos de Kawasaki. As anomalias ecocardiográficas mais frequentes foram derrame pericárdico (64%), envolvimento valvar (68%), disfunção ventricular (39%) e anomalias coronárias (29%). Tinham linfopenia 75% das crianças. Todas tinham algum teste de coagulação anormal. A maioria recebeu imunoglobulina intravenosa (89%), glucocorticoides (82%), vasopressores (54%) e antibióticos (64%). Tiveram envolvimento mais grave 61% dos pacientes, que precisaram ser internados em unidade de terapia intensiva (mediana de quatro dias, média de seis dias); os preditores de gravidade foram pacientes com fenótipo inflamatório/ MIS-C (odds ratio — OR 26,5; intervalo de confiança — IC95% 1,4-503,7; p=0,029) e erupção cutânea (OR 14,7; IC95% 1,2-178,7; p=0,034). Dois pacientes (7%) apresentavam síndrome de ativação macrofágica. Conclusões: Alteração da artéria coronária, disfunção ventricular e internação na unidade de terapia intensiva foram frequentes, o que nos alerta sobre a importância da suspeita clínica precoce.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) temporally related to COVID-19: the experience at a pediatric reference hospital in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and the different phenotypes of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) temporally related to COVID-19 and to evaluate the risk conditions that favored a greater severity of the disease during a 12-month period at a pediatric reference hospital in Colombia. METHODS: A 12-month retrospective observational study of children under the age of 18 years who met criteria for MIS-C. RESULTS: A total of 28 children presented MIS-C criteria. The median age was 7 years. Other than fever (100%) (onset 4 days prior to admission), the most frequent clinical features were gastrointestinal (86%) and mucocutaneous (61%). Notably, 14 (50%) children had Kawasaki-like symptoms. The most frequent echocardiographic abnormalities were pericardial effusion (64%), valvular involvement (68%), ventricular dysfunction (39%), and coronary artery abnormalities (29%). In addition, 75% had lymphopenia. All had at least one abnormal coagulation test. Most received intravenous immunoglobulin (89%), glucocorticoids (82%), vasopressors (54%), and antibiotics (64%). Notably, 61% had a more severe form of the disease and were admitted to an intensive care unit (median 4 days, mean 6 days); the severity predictors were patients with the inflammatory/MIS-C phenotype (OR 26.5; 95%CI 1.40-503.7; p=0.029) and rash (OR 14.7; 95%CI 1.2-178.7; p=0.034). Two patients had macrophage activation syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery abnormalities, ventricular dysfunction, and intensive care unit admission were frequent, which needs to highlight the importance of early clinical suspicion.

Purulent pericarditis as a complication of pneumonia in an infant. clinical case report

ABSTRACT Introduction: Purulent pericarditis is an inflammatory process in the pericardium caused by bacterial infection. If experienced during childhood and with untimely diagnosis, it has a high mortality rate. Case presentation: A 10-month-old infant was admitted to a high complexity pediatric hospital in the city of Bogotá D.C, Colombia, due to clinical symptoms including cough, respiratory distress and fever. A chest x-ray was taken showing cardiomegaly and multilobar pulmonary involvement. The echocardiogram showed global pericardial effusion managed with pericardiotomy, in which 50 mL of turbid fluid with whitish membranes was obtained. Cytochemical test revealed 2 600 mm3 leukocytes with 90% PMN and protein elevation. Purulent pericarditis was diagnosed based on imaging and laboratory findings. Treatment was initiated with ceftriaxone and clindamycin for four weeks, obtaining effective clinical and echocardiographic resolution. Discussion: The clinical presentation and imaging, paraclinical and electrocardiographic findings suggested purulent pericarditis as the first possibility. This diagnosis was confirmed considering the characteristics of the pericardial fluid, which was compatible with an exudate. Clinical resolution supported by antibiotic management corroborated the diagnosis, even though microbiological isolation was not obtained in cultures. Conclusion: Purulent pericarditis is a rare disease in pediatrics and has a high mortality rate. Making a timely diagnosis and administering early treatment are related to a better prognosis of this pathology.

RESUMEN Introducción. La pericarditis purulenta es un proceso inflamatorio del pericardio producto de una infección bacteriana. De no lograrse un diagnóstico oportuno, se convierte en una patología con alta mortalidad en la infancia. Presentación del caso. Lactante de 10 meses de edad que ingresó a un hospital pediátrico de alta complejidad en Bogotá D.C., Colombia, por un cuadro clínico dado por tos, dificultad respiratoria y fiebre. Se tomó una radiografía de tórax donde se observó cardiomegalia y compromiso neumónico multilobar. El ecocardiograma mostró un derrame pericárdico global que requirió pericardiotomía, en la cual se obtuvo 50 mL de líquido turbio con membranas blanquecinas. En la prueba citoquímica se encontraron 2 600mm3 leucocitos, polimorfonucleares del 90% y elevación de proteínas. Con los hallazgos de imagenología y laboratorio se hizo el diagnóstico de pericarditis purulenta, por lo que se inició tratamiento con ceftriaxona y clindamicina por 4 semanas, obteniendo una resolución clínica y ecocardiográfica efectiva. Discusión. La presentación clínica y los hallazgos imagenológicos, paraclínicos y electrocardiográficos sugirieron como primera posibilidad pericarditis purulenta, lo cual se confirmó por las características de líquido pericárdico, que era compatible con un exudado. La resolución clínica, apoyada por el manejo antibiótico y a pesar de no obtener aislamiento microbiológico en los cultivos, corroboró el diagnóstico. Conclusiones. La pericarditis purulenta es una enfermedad poco frecuente en pediatría pero con alta mortalidad. Realizar un diagnóstico oportuno sumado a un tratamiento tempano se relaciona con un mejor pronóstico de esta patología.