A 9-year-old child with a form similar to Kawasaki disease described in young patients who came into contact with the coronavirus died. It is the first death of this type in France. 

The child, who died of "neurological damage related to cardiac arrest [had] a serology showing that he had been in contact [with the coronavirus, but had not developed the symptoms of Covid-19]", clarified to AFP Professor Fabrice Michel, head of the pediatric resuscitation service of La Timone in Marseille, confirming information from La Provence. 

The young patient, domiciled in Marseille, had "severe discomfort with cardiac arrest" at home before being transported to this specialized service. He received "treatment there for seven days," and died on Saturday, the doctor said. 

In its weekly point published on Thursday evening, the public health agency France public health made mention of the death of a "boy aged 9 years, presenting a neuro-developmental comorbidity", after an inflammatory disease having reached his heart and which was undoubtedly linked to Covid-19. 

125 reports in France 

In the past three weeks, several countries have reported cases of children affected by an inflammatory disease with symptoms close to a rare condition, Kawasaki disease, probably linked to Covid-19. In France, 125 reports were reported between March 1 and May 12, according to Santé publique France. 

More than half of the cases have been reported in Île-de-France. A third were between 5 and 9 years old, just over a quarter between 10 and 14 years old and as many between 1 and 4 years old. 

Symptoms are high fever, abdominal pain and digestive upset, rash, conjunctivitis, and the tongue that reddens, swells and looks raspberry. 

These symptoms are close to childhood Kawasaki disease, which causes inflammation of the blood vessels. 

However, there are differences: the inflammatory nature and cardiac damage are "much more marked" in cases suspected of being linked to Covid-19, according to Santé publique France. 

These cases concern "very few children, and a single death, they should not worry unduly," says Professor Michel. It is necessary "to consult when the children have fever for more than two days and associated signs", he adds.

With AFP

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