"Two Suspected Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Recovered... COVID-19 Antibody Testing Underway" (Update)

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Among the two reported suspected cases of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, one has been discharged, the quarantine authorities announced on the 27th. The other patient is also about to be discharged as symptoms have almost completely improved. Authorities are investigating whether the cases are related to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters for COVID-19, the two cases reported on the 25th were both from medical institutions in Seoul and exhibited clinical features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome. One patient is an 11-year-old boy, and the other is a 4-year-old girl. COVID-19 diagnostic tests conducted independently by the hospitals returned negative results.

However, it was confirmed that the male child had traveled to the Philippines between January and March, prompting the quarantine authorities to examine the possible connection to COVID-19. PCR tests, which determine COVID-19 infection, detect current infection at the time of diagnosis, so if the virus has disappeared after a past infection, it will not be detected. Currently, serological tests are underway to check whether antibodies were formed after infection.

The child stayed in the Philippines and returned to Korea in early March, with symptoms reportedly appearing around late April. Even if the infection occurred overseas and symptoms developed after returning, there is a gap of about 6 to 7 weeks. Since the mechanism of onset and symptom manifestation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome is not clearly understood, authorities are taking a broad approach in their analysis.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a regular briefing that "after the antibody tests are completed, experts will review the cases to determine whether they correspond to multisystem inflammatory syndrome," adding, "Results are expected early next week."

It is known that the children showed symptoms such as fever, rash, conjunctival injection, and abdominal pain upon hospital visit. Kwak Jin, head of patient management at the Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Both children exhibited clinical features similar to those seen in Kawasaki disease," and added, "Symptoms improved significantly through immunoglobulin treatment, which is mainly used for Kawasaki disease."