Abstract
We report a case of acute pharyngolaryngitis with a diagnosis of COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children that was difficult to treat after hospitalization.
The patient was a 15-year-old male who had tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR two months prior to his visit to our hospital. His symptoms were fever, nasal discharge, and olfactory disturbance, which resolved after 10 days of bed rest at home. Four days prior to his visit to our hospital, he had fever, sore throat, and diarrhea. He was diagnosed as having acute pharyngitis and was admitted to our hospital for intravenous fluids and antibacterial drugs due to poor oral intake. After hospitalization and treatment, the patient's symptoms did not improve and he remained difficult to treat. During the course of his illness, he showed findings similar to those of Kawasaki disease, leading to the diagnosis of COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children causes severe inflammation of multiple organ systems that may suggest toxic shock syndrome or Kawasaki disease, and carries a risk of serious illness. The median age of onset is rather high (8.4 years), and adolescent patients like our patient may be encountered in otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinics. It is necessary to keep this disease in mind as part of the differential diagnosis and to treat it promptly.
