PIMS
PIMS
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
PIMS-TS stands for Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19. You may also see it called PIMS for short, or MISC-C (Multisystem Inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID).
PIMS is a rare complication of coronavirus (COVID-19). It mainly affects school-age children, though infants or young adults can occasionally get it too.
Most children who catch coronavirus don't develop severe disease. PIMS is not like the other severe forms of coronavirus. Children with PIMS have usually had only mild symptoms at the time of their infection, or no symptoms at all. The symptoms of PIMS then usually start about 4 to 6 weeks later.
What are the symptoms of PIMS?
Every child with PIMS has a fever (temperature over 380C) that lasts at least 3 to 4 days.
Other common symptoms are:
- red rash (spots or blotches) which may be there all the time, or come and go
- red eyes (conjunctivitis) which are not sticky or itchy
- abdominal pain which might be severe, like appendicitis
- vomiting and/or diarrhoea
- sore throat, cough, breathlessness
- swollen glands
- sore red mouth
- swollen hands and feet
- headache
- dizziness
- sleepiness or confusion
Read more: Stomach ache and abdominal pain · Vomiting in children and babies · Sore throat · Cough · Shortness of breath · Swollen glands · Headaches · Dizziness (lightheadedness)
How is PIMS diagnosed?
Many other illnesses can cause the same symptoms as PIMS, so it isn't always easy to spot. There's no specific test for PIMS. Doctors can diagnose it by:
- asking about symptoms and how they've progressed
- examination
- doing blood tests and scans which show signs of inflammation
Is there treatment for PIMS?
PIMS can make a child very sick, but there is effective treatment, and the vast majority of children make a full recovery.
The medicines doctors use most often are steroids and immunoglobulin. Both are given into the vein, and both bring down inflammation. PIMS can affect the way the heart works, and it can cause inflammation in other organs too. So some children will need other treatments as well, to help the heart and other body systems.
See a doctor if:
Speak to a doctor if your child has a fever lasting 3 to 4 days and:
- is feeling very weak or dizzy
- is very sleepy or confused
- has a rash and/or red eyes
- has severe or worsening abdominal pain
If your doctor is closed, contact a doctor or the 16263 health line. In an emergency, call 999.
Don't include personal information, for example your name, your location or any personal health conditions.