Kawasaki-like disease in children with COVID-19

Abstract

Sir, In late 2019, a new type of viral infection emerged in Wuhan, China, known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and which has become the most challenging pandemic of this century. COVID-19 has affected individuals of all ages worldwide. Epidemiological data from numerous countries show that children are a small minority of those who test positive. Most children with COVID-19 show mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, yet new concerns have emerged, with reports on hyperinflammatory states or Kawasaki-like disease [1,2]. Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that occurs mainly in children and rarely in adults [3]. Herein, we report a child with Kawasaki-like disease associated with COVID-19. A fifteen-year-old boy presented to our department with a four-day history of high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdomen pain, and erythematous rash. His previous medical history was unremarkable. A physical examination revealed diffuse, erythematous, maculopapular rash, bilateral conjunctivitis, erosive hyperemia of the oral mucosa, scrotal erythema, and a deepithelialized tongue (Figs. 1 and 2).