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Experts on Alert for Cases of Kawasaki Disease in Australian Children

A pediatric infectious diseases specialist has warned Australia is likely to see cases of inflammatory disease - Kawasaki Disease - in some COVID-19 children following reports of rising numbers of cases overseas. The disease, called PIMS-TS and identical to the rare Kawasaki disease, was reported in 73 children and teens in the U.S. state of New York, and resulted in three deaths. It is also reported in kids in the UK. Pediatric infectious disease expert Professor Robert Booy of Sydney University said he believes that Australia may have cases of this new syndrome. "We will see them in my new opinion but in small numbers," he stated. Leaked minutes from an Australia's leading medical expert panel meeting, seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy sought advice from pediatric specialists on Kawasaki disease ahead of Friday's national cabinet meeting. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee minutes also outlined concerns from chief health officers that the society is now reducing social distancing policies beyond what is acceptable. "Have to keep messaging that personal responsibility is key," the minutes stated. Speaking at the COVID-19 senate inquiry on Wednesday morning, Professor Murphy said he does not believe that the PIMS-TS disease was going to become a concern here. “Because it's so rare it's unlikely to be seen in Australia, but obviously we've got alerts on us and we're clearly watching it,” he stated. Professor Murphy said high numbers in New York would possibly be a reflection of the fact that COVID-19 had several thousand children there. By contrast there were almost 7000 cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and fewer than 100 in children under 10 years of age.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said the latest PIMS-TS has been identified with large numbers of COVID-19 cases in other countries but has not yet occurred in Australia. "So far there's been no known increase in Kawasaki in Australia, and no cases of this PIMS-TS," he said on Wednesday afternoon. Dr. Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer, said the pediatric hospitals in the country were working together and set up a monitoring program to search for possible disease cases. There has been no cause for alarm so far, she said. Professor Booy said scientists were trying to find out whether the disease was related to COVID-19-or if it was related to coronavirus at all. “This may be an inflammatory reaction that occurs after you recover from COVID - your body sets up this inflammation where it causes rashes, heart blood vessel damage and the like,” he stated. He stated another possible explanation is the new illness is “nothing to do with COVID”. Although it is uncertain if the current extreme immune response syndrome is classic or a different version of Kawasaki disease, Professor Booy said there is an existing successful treatment that includes providing intravenous antibodies to children. "It works against Kawasaki, I suspect it will work for this too," he stated. Do not forget leaving your valuable comment on this piece of writing and sharing with your near and dear ones. To keep yourself up-to-date with Information Palace, put your email in the space given below and Subscribe. Furthermore, if you yearn to know about the Los Angles mayor’s advice, view our construct, ‘'Los Angeles Mayor Says 'Do Not Freak Out' about Stay-at-Home Order’. Read the full article