PORTLAND, Ore. — Inside the emergency department at Randall Children's Hospital in North Portland, doctors may be dealing with their first case of Pediatric Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome.
"We may have seen our first case in the last 24 hours," said Dr. Opher Nadler, medical director of the emergency department at Randall Children's Hospital. "We still have to confirm that. It's not clear yet."
What is clear is that Pediatric Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome is associated with COVID-19. It has already killed several children in New York. Dozens more are sick.
"So far they've been describing a lot of different symptoms including rash, red eyes, weakness, and being tired," said Dr. Nadler.
Dr. Nadler is keeping a close eye on the sick child, as well as the other coronavirus cases in children to come through the ER.
Dr. Nadler is also worried about what he calls a significant decrease in the number of children coming to the ER for care of any kind.
"Kids not being in school, less illness going around," he said. "Fewer injuries from sports because those are not happening and people are afraid of coming to the hospital."
Dr. Nadler says if parents do not seek treatment for sick or injured kids, they could be doing more harm than good. He says if things like appendicitis and asthma go untreated, it could lead to prolonged hospital stays. Then there are broken bones.
"We've had a kid within the last week, parents were afraid of coming in," he said. "It took almost two weeks for them to come in with a broken bone. That means the broken bone is starting to heal in the new position which is bent and fixing it is a much more difficult task."
Dr. Nadler is urging parents not to wait if their child is sick or hurt. He says parents should seek medical care immediately.
"We made sure everyone has the right precautions," said Dr. Nadler. "Wearing masks and gowns. We give masks to the people that visit so we're keeping everyone safe."