In a Nov. 23 update, the World Health Organization issued clinical management recommendations for the treatment of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a rare but serious condition tied to COVID-19.
The recommendations for hospitalized children with MIS-C include:
- Use of corticosteroids in addition to supportive care (rather than either intravenous immunoglobulin plus supportive care, or supportive care alone), for hospitalized children aged 0-18 years old who meet a standard case definition for MIS-C.
- Use of corticosteroids in addition to standard of care for hospitalized children aged 0-18 years who meet both a standard case definition for MIS-C and diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease.
The updated guidance is part of the WHO's COVID-19 resource, Clinical management: living guidance, which contains the organization's most up-to-date recommendations for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients.