Mysterious Covid-Linked Disease 'No Longer Expected To Be Fatal' In Children After Treatment Breakth

Dr Karyn Moshal, from Great Ormond Street Hospital, says children are recovering within three to five days

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A breakthrough in treatment means that a mysterious Covid-linked children's inflammatory syndrome is "no longer expected to be fatal", a top paediatrician has said.

Dr Karyn Moshal, a senior consultant in paediatric infectious diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital (Gosh) in London, said that youngsters who show symptoms are now recovering within three to five days.

In April, Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, ordered an urgent investigation into a reported rise in children needing intensive care after contracting Covid-19 after the NHS issued an alert to GPs. It led to calls for schools to stay closed, and panic among parents.

But Dr Moshal said that condition is now "no longer expected to be fatal", after a combination of treatments were rapidly developed by doctors.

"It was a brand-new phenomenon and we had to make quick decisions in the absence of evidence," Dr Moshal said.

"A multi-disciplinary, multi-hospital team designed a treatment plan using drugs which we have evidence works well in both toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease.

"We used Intravenous Immunoglobulin together with Methylprednisolone, a similar steroid preparation to the drug that Oxford was testing (Dexamethasone). Then for those who were most ill, or were taking a little longer to respond, we added an immune modulatory therapy.

"Individual treatment plans were discussed and agreed by this group, and response to treatment monitored. It's this combination that has proved successful."

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