Skin manifestations and related clinical characteristics of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: A descriptive retrospective cohort study at Texas Children’s Hospital

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BackgroundLittle is known about the dermatologic manifestations of MIS-C in children and adolescents ObjectiveWe sought to describe the demographic background, key clinical features, and the clinical consequences of developing rash manifestations in MIS-C patients at Texas Children’s Hospital. MethodsDescriptive retrospective cohort study of 290 hospitalized eligible patients between May 2020 and April 2022. ResultsAmong MIS-C patients, 51% exhibited a rash. We found that younger children (8.62 vs. 9.49 years of age, p=0.006) and white children (p=0.002) had a higher likelihood of developing a rash in association with MIS-C. Additionally, patients without a rash had increased maximum troponin levels (0.11 ng/mL vs. 0.07 ng/mL, p=0.02) and a higher incidence of cardiac involvement (83.1% vs. 72.3%, p=0.03) compared to those with a rash but did not significantly affect the length of hospital stay or clinical course. The most commonly observed rash was an erythematous and maculopapular rash on the trunk and/or extremities. LimitationsRash characteristics were initially described by a variety of physicians on the pediatric primary care services. ConclusionRash manifestations in MIS-C patients is associated with lower Cardiac involvement and decreased troponin levels.