Grant County child found to have COVID-19 variant

MOSES LAKE — The first case of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C, in Grant County has been confirmed.

The disease is associated with the COVID-19 virus.

The patient, a child younger than 10 years of age, spent several days in intensive care. The child is now stable and recovering at home, according to a press release from Grant County Health District.

The disease causes inflammation in the heart, lungs, brain, eyes and gastrointestinal organs.

“While the causes for MIS-C continue to be investigated, many children with MIS-C were infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 at the time of their illness,” the press release said.

Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, neck pain, bloodshot eyes or feeling very tired, GCHD stated. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and many patients require hospitalization.

The state has had 45 confirmed cases of MIS-C in the past year.

The definition of the disease includes a patient younger than 21 years of age, with a fever and laboratory evidence of inflammation, severe illness involving more than two organs and requiring hospitalization. The patient must have a positive coronavirus test or exposure to a person with a confirmed case within four weeks of the onset of symptoms. The patient also must have no other plausible diagnosis.

Grant County Health Officer Alexander Brzezny said MIS-C is rare, but children who contract it can become seriously ill. He urged county residents to continue precautions designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, including frequent hand-washing, wearing masks and social distancing in public.