Lee's Shoe Repair

If you are by the store wish Mr. Lee a happy birthday... wearing a mask and socially distanced

When the COVID pandemic started there was a lot of talk about children not being affected quite as bad, and that does still seem to be true, but lately there ha...ve been case reports about an inflammatory disease that has been occurring in children: Here is a FAQ about what it is: Q: What is this disease that I'm hearing about? A: It is being called Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS). It is also being referred to as Kawasaki disease, inflammation syndrome, severe inflammation from COVID-19, etc. PIMS seems to be acting like Kawasaki's disease which is a pediatric condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels and abnormal dilations of the arteries supplying the heart with blood. Q: What are the symptoms of PIMS? A: 1. High fever for 5-7 or more days in an infant/child, for which no other explanation is identified 2. Both eyes appearing pink or red with no discharge. 3. Red, cracked lips or red tongue that looks like a strawberry 4. Rash throughout the body 5. Swollen hands and feet, which might also be red 6. Enlarged lymph node (gland) on one side of the neck 7. Abdominal pain without another explanation (i.e. no vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation) Q: My child currently is having cough and fevers (or diarrhea and fevers) and has been having fevers should they be evaluated for PIMS? A: We would recommend any child who is having fevers, cough, or any signs of infection be evaluated. If the beginning or not serious, a telehealth visit, if possible, should be done. But in general, children who have PIMS do not have obvious symptoms when they were infected with novel coronavirus, like cough, and generally were healthy prior to developing PIMS. Q: My child was diagnosed with COVID and is coughing with fever should I be worried about PIMS? A: As above if your child is coughing and having active symptoms of COVID, it is unlikely they are having PIMS at this time, but should be followed by their doctor VERY closely. Q: Why does PIMS occur and is it really due to COVID 19? A: Typically in a process such as Kawasaki's, the patient's body is in such a high inflammatory response that it causes inflammation of the blood vessels called vasculitis. It is not known why COVID 19 is causing this to occur, but patients recently who had a Kawasaki-like disease have tested positive for COVID 19 through a nasal swab or blood titer test. Q: If PIMS doesn't occur during the intial illness of COVID, when should I be looking for these symptoms? A: We are still learning more and trying to understand the process better, but it does seem that PIMS does occur after one has recovered from the initial illness of COVID. Q: When should I call a healthcare professional? A: If you think that your child has PIMS, you should contact your child’s Pediatrician or Primary Care Doctor immediately. It may be possible, becasue this is such a new phenomena, that your doctor many not have all the answer. Q: What is the treatment for PIMS: A: A child with PIMS should be evaluated immediately and admitted to the Hospital. First line treatment is an IV antibody treatment called IVIG. But there are also second and third line treatments. Once admitted the care of your child will likely be made in conjunction with Infectious Disease and/or Rheumatology Specialist. Q: My child was sick in the previous weeks with an illness but was not tested for COVID but has no symptoms should they be evaluated for PIMS? A: Not at this time. A child who has PIMS will have the symptoms that were listed above.

Happy Memorial Day! It also doubled as Mr. Lee's 70th birthday!

Have a happy Sunday everybody, stay dry and safe out there!

http://online.wsj.com//SB100014240527023036401045774362116