Talking with Parents about Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Two pediatric cardiologists offer perspective on how to approach conversations about MIS-C with parents or guardians.
In part 2 of an interview with HCPLive, pediatric cardiologists Dongngan Truong, MD, University of Utah Health and Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, and Jane Newburger, MD, Boston Children’s Hospital, spoke about the conversations they have with parents about their child’s diagnosis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
“Obviously, parents are really concerned and scared and ask about the treatments because this entity has not been around really long,” Truong said.
“I explain to them that we've used these medications before to treat in similar ways to help with the inflammation within the body,” she continued. “[They] have been used in these other things that look similar to MIS-C.”
Newburger mentioned that she first explains MIS-C as a type of “allergic reaction” of the immune system to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Furthermore, she assures parents it is expected their child will recover — even if the child gets sicker during their hospital stay.
“We use a variety of medications that kind of calm or soothe the immune system,” she noted.
“I also explain that there’s a tremendous amount that we don’t know, that we hope that every child who has MIS-C is involved in research projects that help us treat future children with MIS-C better.”
