Urgent Alert Issued in UK As Coronavirus-Related Condition Seen in Children

The warning says there has been an “apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also other regions of the UK” over the last three weeks, the Independent reported.

The NHS England alert, shared by the Paediatric Intensive Care Society on Sunday evening, adds: “There is a growing concern that a (COVID-19) related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK, or that there may be another, as yet unidentified, infectious pathogen associated with these cases.”

It is not known how many children have been affected, however the illness has been seen in children who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as well as those who have not had the disease.

The condition has the characteristics of severe COVID-19, and also shares certain features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki Disease, according to the alert.

Abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms “have been a common feature” of the illness, as has cardiac inflammation.

Doctors have been asked to urgently refer any patients showing signs of these.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the UK coronavirus lockdown cannot yet be eased as he returned to work on Monday after recovering from the disease for three weeks.

He said there were signs the country was "turning the tide" against the virus but warned the public that it was too early to lift the restrictions.

The global pandemic has now infected more than three million people worldwide, including at least 152,840 people in the UK.