Children’s Healthcare doctors address parents’ concerns about COVID-19, MIS-C

ATLANTA — Parents have a lot to worry about right now, with soaring COVID-19 cases among children and the start of flu season.

On Thursday, doctors from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta hosted a Facebook Live event to address parents’ concerns.

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Children’s Healthcare chief medical officers Dr. James Fortenberry and Dr. Andie Shane answered parent questions about several things, including Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a complication of COVID-19. MIS-C can show up three to six weeks after a COVID-19 infection and can be deadly.

“Really, the bottom line is preventing the acute COVID-19 infections,” Shane said.

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Shane said the main concern with MIS-C is the effect on the heart. Parents should look out for their child appearing sleepier, having a decreased appetite, sleeping more or having vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, prolonged fever, chest pain or a racing heart.

Most children who get MIS-C do recover well, but more research is being done on the long-term effects.

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Shane said that if you notice difficulty breathing or have problems waking your child up, you should get immediate medical help.

One parent asked if Shane would get her elementary-aged child vaccinated. She said she has no concerns.

“We will be first in line as soon as it is available for his age group,” Shane said.

Shane said clinical trials are showing the vaccine to be safe in children both in the short- and long-term.

Hospital officials also advised parents not to skip getting their kids the flu shot. The best way to keep children safe from both COVID-19 and the flu is to get them vaccinated if they are eligible.

“It’s such a simple thing to do, part of (the) community effort to keep them safe and continuing to develop,” Shane said.

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