CANTON — Children have been significantly less affected by COVID-19, according to St. Lawrence County Public Health officials.

One percent of New Yorkers who have been hospitalized were under 20 years old. Additionally, only 7% of the positive cases in St. Lawrence County have been in children under 20 years old.

However, the State Department of Health is investigating 124 reported cases and 3 deaths in New York of children, predominantly school-aged, possibly due to COVID-19. Though most children who get COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, this inflammatory syndrome has features which overlap with Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome and may occur days to weeks after acute COVID-19 illness.

Parents should seek immediate care if a child has these symptoms:

• Prolonged fever (more than five days),

• Difficulty feeding (infants) or too sick to drink fluids,

• Severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting,

• Change in skin color: becoming pale, patchy and/or blue,

• Trouble breathing or is breathing very quickly,

• Racing heart or chest pain,

• Decreased amount of frequency in urine, and

• Fatigue, irritability, or confusion

Of the children displaying these symptoms in New York State, 89% tested positive for COVID-19 either by a diagnostic test, an antibody test, or both.

Early recognition by pediatricians and referral to a specialist including to critical care is essential, health officials said.

If you have questions regarding this syndrome, contact your pediatrician.

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