Doctors diagnosed Maxfield’s 14-year-old son with multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a new condition in kids that has been linked to coronavirus.

But now, several hundred cases of the new inflammatory syndrome have been reported in the U.S.

Most of the children affected have tested positive for coronavirus, have coronavirus antibodies or been in close proximity to an adult with COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Discovery of the syndrome comes as California wrestles with how and when children can return to group settings like child care, school or camp.

While inflammatory syndrome cases are still rare, some fear the number could rise as more children come in close contact again and begin getting coronavirus.

For younger children, Rothermel said, the state is expected to issue more in-depth child care guidance soon — and she expects the syndrome will be a factor.

“It’s in the state’s hands to put the policy forward and equip providers so that parents can feel good and safe about sending their children back to these providers,” she said.

In New York, where the syndrome first appeared in the U.S., 179 cases and three deaths have been reported since April.

The low number of cases poses a dilemma for both parents and policy makers, forced to make decisions about sending children back to group settings without much information about the syndrome.

In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named the condition Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children, or MIS-C (previously known as pediatric multisystem syndrome or PIMS).

The agency issued a health warning on May 14 and is requiring that all cases be reported.

A new study on a small cohort of Italian children published in the journal Lancet showed that the syndrome is probably linked to coronavirus.

But clearly there appears to be this group of children that becomes very ill because of COVID-19 infection,” said Dr.

As of May 27, children under 18 made up 5.2% of all positive coronavirus cases in California, according to the Department of Public Health.

But if more children contract coronavirus, these post-infection inflammatory response cases also could rise, he said.

At first, doctors considered the cases to be a rare illness known as Kawasaki disease or Kawasaki-like.

An unusual uptick of Kawasaki cases in April at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles tipped off doctors that something was off, said Szmuszkovicz.

Physicians began reviewing the cases for indications that they were actually the new syndrome related to coronavirus and testing the children for antibodies.

Of the 21 Kawasaki cases since April 1, six of them turned out to be the inflammatory syndrome where the children tested positive for coronavirus antibodies.

Doctors will continue testing children identified as Kawasaki or syndrome patients to see if they develop antibodies over time.

Children’s Hospital Orange County has had one case so far of the syndrome and has sent letters to recent Kawasaki patients, explaining the syndrome and asking them to take antibody tests, said Dr.

Now, Maxfield wants other parents to know what signs to look for in their own children, and to seek treatment as soon as possible