This week, health care officials are reporting an "unprecedented" number of cases involving severe inflammation in kids and teens.
In New York, the department of health reported 64 cases of the syndrome, which they believe is tied to COVID-19, the New York Times reports.
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Other cases have been reported across the U.S. and Europe. According to CNN Health, the symptoms resemble a form of Kawasaki disease, which leads to internal inflammation and can limit proper blood flow.
According to NPR, pediatricians are saying parents shouldn't panic. Despite the rise, the number of cases are still very rare.
However, officials advise contacting a health care professional if a child starts to present unusual symptoms like “persistent high fever over several days and significant abdominal pains with repeated vomiting,” according to reporting from NPR.
"It's still very rare, but there's been a wave of cases. Physicians and scientists are working hard to understanding the mechanisms at play, and why only some children are so severely affected," Dr. Jane Newburger told the radio station.
Newburger told NPR that symptoms for Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, the condition associated with COVID-19, include a consistent fever, excessive inflammation and evidence that organs are not functioning properly.
In Britain, researchers alerted doctors of the urgency of the cases, according to CNN.
"We suggest that this clinical picture represents a new phenomenon affecting previously asymptomatic children with SARS-CoV-2 infection manifesting as a hyperinflammatory syndrome with multiorgan involvement similar to Kawasaki disease shock syndrome," the researchers wrote.
The Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health issued guidance for providers on the condition.
