TITLE:
Clinical Characteristics and Short-Term Outcomes of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: A Single-Center Case Series from China
AUTHORS:
Yining Sun, Li Huang, Zihao Tan
KEYWORDS:
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, MIS-C, SARS-CoV-2, Kawasaki Disease, Cardiac Involvement, China
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.18 No.10,
September
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To describe the clinical manifestations, laboratory abnormalities, treatment patterns, and short-term outcomes of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) treated at a tertiary pediatric emergency center in China during the early 2023 SARS-CoV-2 wave. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed nine consecutive children diagnosed with MIS-C and admitted to the Department of Pediatric Emergency, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, between January and March 2023. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and in-hospital outcomes were summarized descriptively. Results: Nine children were included; seven (77.8%) were male and the mean age was 5 ± 3 years. Fever occurred in all patients. Frequent mucocutaneous findings included red lips/strawberry tongue (88.9%), conjunctival injection (77.8%), lymphadenopathy (66.7%), and rash (66.7%). Coronary artery thickening/dilatation or ectasia occurred in four patients (44.4%), sinus tachycardia in four (44.4%), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome in three (33.3%). Laboratory findings showed prominent inflammation and cardiac involvement, including median C-reactive protein 85.9 mg/L, procalcitonin 3.3 ng/mL, D-dimer 2.1 μg/mL, interleukin-6 90.4 pg/mL, and NT-proBNP 4953 pg/mL, together with relative lymphopenia and hypoalbuminemia. All patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin; one received corticosteroids. One patient required mechanical ventilation and vasoactive support. Median length of stay was 8 days, and all patients survived to discharge with clinical improvement. Conclusions: In this small single-center case series, MIS-C was characterized by fever, prominent mucocutaneous inflammation, laboratory evidence of hyperinflammation, and frequent cardiovascular involvement. The findings are broadly consistent with contemporary Chinese and international cohorts, but the small sample and absence of a comparator group preclude estimates of incidence, treatment effectiveness, or risk. Larger multicenter studies with standardized case definitions and longitudinal cardiac follow-up are needed.