Bradford mum raises awareness of PIMS-TS in children after Covid-19

Jessica Walsh, who lives with her husband and three boys in Baildon, had never heard of PIMS-TS until her son Logan fell ill with a temperature and vomiting on December 13.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health describes it as an "unusual condition which seems to be linked to the [Covid-19] virus" and presents itself with a "wide range of symptoms".

It believes around 80 children may have been seriously affected and admitted to an intensive care unit. Almost all these children have since recovered but some are being monitored for possible heart problems caused by the inflammation.

The organisation says PIMS-TS appears to be linked to Covid-19 because most of the children either had the virus or tested positive for antibodies, indicating they had been infected even if they hadn’t seemed ill at the time. A very small number of the children with PIMS symptoms didn’t test positive for either.

"I don't want to scaremonger people," Jessica said.

"I want people to be aware it's there and just know what symptoms to look for."

The Walsh household contracted coronavirus about six weeks ago, leaving Jessica and her partner ill but her three children - 7,11 and 14 - were asymptomatic.

On December 13, little Logan went to bed with a high temperature followed by vomiting.

After three days, Jessica rang her doctor about his persisting illness and mentioned how he was now developing a rash on the back of his hands and feet. The GP told the family to ring 999 and get an ambulance to assess him at home.

Paramedics checked he was not experiencing meningitis and checked his blood sugar levels, temperature and oxygen levels which all came back ok. They expressed concerned that he hadn't had a wee in over 12 hours and told them to take him to A&E if he hadn't urinated by that evening.

He went a couple of hours later and was only sick once the following day, leading the family to believe his bout of sickness was over.

Jessica continued: "By the afternoon Logan became lethargic with a headache and he was 'hurting' so we rang 111 and they told us to take him to A&E. By the time we got there he couldn't walk. I carried him in and, in the 15 minutes I waited to be taken through, his hands and feet were swelling slightly and were covered right up to the wrist and ankles in a bright red rash, this was also appearing all over his face.

"They took him straight through and immediately had a few people checking him over. They moved us straight up to a ward were a specialist came to see him and this was the first time we heard 'PIMS-TS'."

Logan was transferred to Leeds General Infirmary to be treated by a specialist who has witnessed many cases of PIMS-TS in children and teens since March. He was prescribed a steroid treatment straight into the vein.

Logan was moved into ICU after developing a heart murmur, causing his whole body to swell and his blood to thin.

"There was one particular day I thought I was going to lose him in hospital," Jessica told the T&A.

"I was asking if my husband could come in. He's sat at home waiting for the phone call with two kids.I don't know who had it worse really. He [the doctor] was saying if it comes to it he can come in."

Logan spent the following days slowly recovering and returned home on Christmas Day with a heavy prescription of drugs and future appointments for scans, dietician meetings and physio.

He is now able to slowly walk up and down the stairs again.

Jessica said: "In his self he's fine. He didn't have any food for eight or nine days so he's lost a lot of weight.

"He's chirpy. He's building his lego. The only thing I'd say at the moment is the stairs, he gets tired quickly."

PIMS-TS is believed to start affecting children and teenagers around six to eight weeks after the coronavirus infection.

Symptoms include (but not limited to) a rash and abdominal symptoms such as stomach ache, diarrhoea or being sick. Contact your GP if you are concerned and call 999 in an emergency.