Background Understanding the epidemiology and clinical course of multisystem
inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) and its temporal association with coronavirus
disease 2019 (Covid-19) is important, given the clinical and public health implications of the
syndrome. Methods We conducted targeted surveillance for MIS-C from March 15 to May 20,
2020, in pediatric health centers across the United States. The case definition included six
criteria: serious illness leading to hospitalization, an age of less than 21 years, fever that …

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a life-threatening clinical
presentation that has been associated with Covid-19. The majority of children diagnosed
with Covid-19 do not experience severe symptoms or require hospitalization, but there are
well documented cases of previously healthy children who manifest severe symptoms
requiring prolonged hospitalization, ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO). This case series provides initial data on the patient characteristics, clinic …