“There are cases in Belgium of which I am aware”

British health officials were trying to find out on Tuesday whether there was a link between the coronavirus and a serious illness that has recently affected a small number of children. After England and France, similar cases of this childhood illness are also reported in Belgium.

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The disease brought to light on Monday by British doctors resembles Kawasaki disease, a vascular syndrome affecting young children and the cause of which remains undetermined. “This is a new disease which we believe may be caused by the coronavirus,” said Matt Hancock, British Minister of Health, on LBC radio. “We are not 100% sure because some of the people who got it have not tested positive (for coronavirus). So we are currently doing a lot of research. But this is something that concerns us, “he added.

The minister said there were “a small number of cases”. “It is a very rare disease, but I think it is quite plausible that it is due to this virus, at least in certain cases” declared on Monday the chief of the health services, Chris Whitty, at the time of the government’s daily coronavirus press conference.

The British pediatric intensive care company (PICS) relayed an alert from the British public health service, NHS England, on Monday concerning a small increase in the number of cases of critically ill children, some with Covid-19, others not. . Their syndromes were similar to those of Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome.

Symptoms in young patients include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal upset, and heart inflammation. Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), recalled that there was a low probability that children with coronavirus would become seriously ill.

Cases also in Belgium

This Wednesday morning, on Bel-RTL, Jean-Christophe Goffard, head of internal medicine at the Erasmus hospital, explained that there were also cases of this disease in Belgium. “Yes, there have been cases in England, in France. Probably also cases in Belgium of which I am aware, “he explains at first before reconfirming a few seconds later when Fabrice Grosfilley asks him again if there is” at least one case in Belgium “. “Yes, a priori,” replied the doctor.

But he urged citizens not to panic since there is a treatment for this disease. “This is a somewhat mysterious disease that has existed and has been described for a very long time: there are both skin and cardiac manifestations, in particular by causing infarction in children. But there are treatments for this disease. And there, currently, there is an association that seems to be emerging between this disease and the new coronavirus. However, we are still speculating, but nevertheless, there are a few cases that have found it. But there is a treatment. The main thing is not to miss it. “

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