What is the mysterious syndrome linked to Covid-19 that's affecting children?

The Explainer

Late last month, a national alert was issued in the UK for healthcare professionals, warning them about potential links between a life-threatening syndrome being seen in children, and Covid-19.Over a month earlier, doctors in Italy started to notice cases of the same syndrome. In the intervening time, cases were seen in France, Spain and Portugal. The World Health Organization put out an alert about the potential links between the syndrome and Covid-19.Cases of the syndrome in children escalated in New York, where there's thought to be some 100 cases. Three deaths in the state have been linked to the syndrome.But what is this syndrome - similar to Kawasaki Syndrome - and how could it be connected to Covid-19? That's what we're looking at in this week's episode of The Explainer. Our reporter Sean Murray gives presenter Sinéad O'Carroll the most up-to-date information on what we know about the syndrome, and what Irish medical experts have to say.Some further reading on this topic:• What to Know About Kawasaki Disease and Coronavirus (TIME) https://time.com/5832461/kawasaki-disease-covid-19/• The Pandemic Doesn't Have to Be This Confusing (The Atlantic) https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/04/pandemic-confusing-uncertainty/610819/• How coronavirus attacks the human body (The Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/05/10/coronavirus-attacks-body-symptoms/?arc404=true• ‘Finally, a virus got me.’ Scientist who fought Ebola and HIV reflects on facing death from COVID-19 (Science) https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/05/finally-virus-got-me-scientist-who-fought-ebola-and-hiv-reflects-facing-death-covid-19• Covid-19 impacting patients' kidneys with many ending up needing dialysis (TheJournal.ie) https://www.thejournal.ie/coronavirus-kidneys-5089817-May2020/

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