This archive report was first published on 17 May 2020.
‘Straight-Up Fire’ in His Veins: Teen Battles New Covid Syndrome ¶
When a reddish rash appeared on Jack McMorrow’s hands in mid-April, his father initially thought it was due to overusing hand sanitizer. However, over the next 10 days, Jack felt increasingly unwell, developing a stomachache, fever, and swollen lymph node.
His parents consulted his pediatricians via video appointments and took him to an urgent care clinic, but it wasn’t until he awoke unable to move that they realized the severity of his condition. Jack was hospitalized with heart failure, a stark example of the newly discovered severe inflammatory syndrome linked to the coronavirus.
The condition, known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), has shaken confidence that children were largely spared from the pandemic. It causes inflammation throughout the body and can cripple the heart, often appearing weeks after infection in children who didn’t experience first-phase coronavirus symptoms.
At a Senate hearing, Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that children are not completely immune to the deleterious effects of the coronavirus. Jack’s recovery and the experience of other survivors are crucial for doctors, health officials, and parents to understand the mysterious condition.
Jack’s parents, John McMorrow and Doris Stroman, are still trying to understand how their son became infected with the coronavirus. They had taken precautions, avoiding going out and testing negative for the virus themselves.
Jack’s story is a testament to the unpredictable nature of the coronavirus and the importance of continued research and vigilance. His experience serves as a reminder that children are not immune to the effects of the virus and that parents and healthcare professionals must remain vigilant in monitoring their health.
