Florida among states with most children with MIS-C disease linked to COVID-19

Florida has among the most cases of a rare children’s disease brought on by COVID-19 infection or exposure.

Florida, as of July 30, was one of six states that reported having between 150 and 199 cases of the disease known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, or MIS-C.

Georgia led the nation, reporting between 200 and 250 cases as of July 30.

Nationally, 4,404 cases and 37 deaths had been reported.

MIS-C is rare and occurs when body parts, such as children’s hearts, lungs, kidneys, brains, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs, become inflamed.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking patients by race, ethnicity, gender and age. Nearly 60 percent of the cases involved male patients.

Also, children ages 6 to 11 accounted for 39 percent of cases, while children ages 1 to 5 made up 23 percent. The CDC said Hispanic children accounted for about 34 percent of the cases; non-Hispanic Black children accounted for 29 percent and non-Hispanic white children accounted for 28 percent.

MIS-C can occur weeks after COVID-19 and even if children or their families did not know the children had COVID-19.

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