On May 14, 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Advisory to provide parents and healthcare providers with background information on several cases of a recently reported multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

A CDC Health Advisory provides important information to increase awareness of a specific incident or situation but may not require immediate action.

Incomplete news reporting about COVID-19 has suggested that COVID-19 does not affect significant numbers of children under 21 years old.  Consequently, CDC issued the Health Advisory to remind parents and guardians who see either COVID-19 symptoms or MIS-C symptoms in children to contact their healthcare provider for direction.   The Health Advisory notes that at this time it is unknown if multisystem inflammatory syndrome is specific to children or if it also occurs in adults.  Consequently, adults observing symptoms in themselves or in children in their care should contact their healthcare provider for further instructions.

Because there is currently limited information about MIS-C, CDC requests healthcare providers who have cared or are caring for patients younger than 21 years of age meeting MIS-C criteria should report suspected cases to their local, state, or territorial health department.