Rare but dangerous post-Covid illness hits children

Authorities have warned of a rare but dangerous post-Covid condition which has hit some children. Parents are urged to be on the lookout.

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More young South Australian children have been struck down by a rare but dangerous condition after contracting Covid-19, new data shows.

The new cases emerged as the state’s Covid-19 chiefs prepare to meet this week, after SA recorded on Sunday its lowest daily case total since Christmas Eve last year.

SA Health has revealed five paediatric patients have been found with inflammatory multisystem syndrome, or PIMS-TS, in the past three months.

The Communicable Disease Control Branch has been notified of 16 PIMS-TS cases this year who have needed care in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

While rare – less than 1 per cent of sick children develop the condition – serious cases require intensive care treatment, while deaths have occurred overseas.

SA Health has not reported any related deaths and no children are currently in hospital with the condition. There are currently 1672 children and teenagers with Covid, a number which has almost halved in the past fortnight.

“The best protection against Covid-19 is vaccination, with children aged five and above encouraged to get up-to-date with their doses,” an SA Health spokeswoman said.

She said babies and children younger than five years of age were not yet eligible for a Covid vaccine but parents can help protect them through good hygiene and physical distancing.

Authorities say the best defence against Covid-19 is vaccination.

Authorities have advised medical practitioners to urgently send any children – who have been ill Covid-19 and suffering with fever and shock – to an emergency department, by ambulance if necessary.

Symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhoea, a rash, irritability, red eyes or shock caused by low blood pressure.

Presentation, which occur up to six weeks post infection, is similar to acute appendicitis.

The state’s first two cases were notified in early March before increasing to five patients in late May.

SA Health on Sunday reported 664 new Covid-19 cases, which was the lowest level since December 24 last year when 688 patients were recorded.

But there are 259 hospital patients, which senior government sources say was still too high, although the rate is falling.

More than 90 per cent of cases are the BA.5 variant.

Parents have been warned to keep an eye out for a range of symptoms.

Research shows a lag of up to 10 days between infection and any possible hospital admission.

Cabinet’s Emergency Management Council is due to meet on Tuesday morning after authorities pushed back fortnightly meetings to once every three weeks.

Chief public health officer, Professor Nicola Spurrier, will provide the latest advice, and modelling, while authorities will also receive the latest hospital details.

Sources downplayed any changes, including to isolation rules, while hospital rates remain high.

Premier Peter Malinauskas will also on Tuesday discuss Covid issues with other state and territory leaders.

National cabinet, which Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chairs, is then due to meet the following week.

Sources say leaders are keen to adapt national consistent rules.

Separate data shows almost 500,000 eligible South Australians have failed to get their fourth dose, with just 41 per cent having received their winter booster shot.