Pasadena Reports 1st Case of Rare But Serious Coronavirus-Related MIS-C in a Child

Pasadena health officials on Wednesday reported the first known case in the city of a “rare but serious” complication affecting young COVID-19 patients known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C.

A total of 43 cases of MIS-C have been documented countywide since the onset of the pandemic, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. No deaths linked to the condition have been reported.

“MIS-C is a rare but serious complication associated with COVID-19. It’s a condition where different body parts, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs, become inflamed,” according to Pasadena Public Health Department Director Dr. Ying-Ying Goh.

“We do not yet know what causes MIS-C, but it’s another unfortunate reminder of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Goh said in a written statement. “The best way to protect your child is by taking actions to prevent your child and the entire household from getting the virus that causes COVID-19.”

All 43 children diagnosed with MIS-C in L.A. County were hospitalized, and nearly half of them were treated in intensive care units, according to county health officials.

About 26 percent of them were under 5, while 37 percent were between 5 and 11, and another 37 percent were between the ages of 12 and 20, officials added.

Goh reminded the public to wear face coverings in public, frequently wash hands, stay six feet away from others, and avoid gathering with people from other households.

The first case of MIS-C in Pasadena coincided with an increase in COVID-19 transmissions, both locally and regionally, officials said.

“Confirmed cases of COVID-19 in both Pasadena and Los Angeles County public health jurisdictions have reached peaks not experienced since mid-August,” according to the city statement. “Case rates are increasing in all age groups, but the highest rates of increase are among those ages 18 to 40.”

Pasadena health officials also urged all residents over 6 months old to get flu shots.

“This year more than ever, getting vaccinated against the flu is critical. Getting a flu shot can keep you out of urgent care or the emergency room, which is not where you want to be during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the city statement said.

“It is possible to be sick with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. Currently, there is no vaccine for COVID-19, but there is a safe and effective vaccine to protect you from the flu,” according to the statement.

Free flu shots are available through the Pasadena Department of Public Health. More information is available online at cityofpasadena.net/public-health.

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Public Health Officials Urge L.A. County Residents to Avoid Election-Related Gatherings Amid Increase in COVID-19 Spread