Long-term mental health and wellness of South African children treated for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: An observational study
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Abstract
Background. Data on mental health and wellness of children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) from Africa are limited.
Objective. To investigate the long‐term mental health and wellness outcomes in a South African cohort of children with MIS‐C.
Methods. This study reports on the long‐term mental health of 27 such patients using age‐appropriate developmental, clinical and neuropsychiatric validated scales, 6 ‐ 24 months after the initial diagnosis.
Results. Nineteen (70%) children did not meet any criteria for psychiatric disorders. Eight participants met the criteria for a pre‐MIS‐C‐ dated psychiatric diagnosis, based on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders Three (11%) met the criteria for an anxiety disorder, three (11%) for adjustment disorder, one (4%) for attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) only, and one (4%) for both anxiety and ADHD.
Conclusion. None of the participants met the diagnostic criteria for psychotic illnesses, sleep issues, mood disturbances or posttraumatic stress disorder related to MIS‐C. The study enabled recognition and management of pre‐dated MIS‐C mental health risk and psychiatric diagnosis.
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