The NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene together with the Department of Education put out a letter recently addressed to parents and guardians. The NYC Department of Health is currently investigating cases of Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, or PMIS, a new health condition appearing in children in New York City and elsewhere. The NYC Health Department is also investigating the possible association between PMIS and COVID-19 in children. Some doctors think the condition is related to having COVID-19, but the connection is still not clear.
PMIS is a rare condition that is not contagious. However, because it is life-threatening, it is important to know the signs. Most children have a persistent, high temperature lasting several days, along with other symptoms, including:
- Irritability or sluggishness
- Abdominal pain without another explanation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Conjunctivitis, or red or pink eyes
- Enlarged lymph node (“gland”) on one side of the neck
- Red, cracked lips or red tongue that looks like a strawberrySwollen hands and feet, which might also be red