Black and Hispanic children in New Jersey and New York are the most impacted by a rare inflammatory syndrome linked to the novel coronavirus.
The New Jersey Department of Health reported Monday that the Garden State has 31 confirmed cases of of the multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), including 5 new cases since Friday.
In New Jersey, Hispanic children account for 39 percent of the state's reported cases, black children account for 27 percent and white children account for 23 percent. Just 8 percent of such cases involved children of Asian descent.
New York's data also suggests that black and Hispanic children are being disproportionately affected by the syndrome.
Those affected range in age from 1 - 21 years old, but the majority of cases are in children ages 5 - 9. Cases have been reported in Europe and across the U.S.
Officials have described the condition as resembling Toxic Shock Syndrome or Kawasaki disease, where blood vessels become inflamed. Symptoms include persistent fever, irritability or sluggishness, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, rash conjunctivitis, enlarged lymph node on one side of the neck, red cracked lips or red tongue and swelling in the hands and feet.
Of children displaying MIS-C symptoms, 93 percent tested positive for COVID-19 either by diagnostic, antibody testing or both.
Early detection can prevent serious complications, officials say.
Mayor Bill de Blasio recently put out a comprehensive fact sheet to raise awareness in the condition among parents. View the sheet here.
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