# Case Report: Two episodes of hyperinflammation in an infant consistent with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: recurrence or rather two different diseases?

**Authors:** Markus-Johann Dechant, Holger Michel, Michael Kabesch, Michael Melter, Stephan Gerling

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fped.2025.1559244 · Frontiers in Pediatrics · 2025-06-05

## TL;DR

A 9-month-old infant had two hyperinflammatory episodes during the pandemic, each resembling MIS-C, raising questions about recurrence or distinct diseases.

## Contribution

This case highlights the rarity and diagnostic challenges of recurrent MIS-C in infants.

## Key findings

- The infant had two MIS-C-like episodes involving coronary arteries during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
- Distinguishing MIS-C from Kawasaki disease remains challenging in clinical practice.
- Close follow-up is essential to detect cardiovascular complications early in such cases.

## Abstract

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a hyperinflammatory disease that occurs after infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We report a 9-month-old male infant with two episodes of hyperinflammatory disease, each involving the coronary arteries, within a short period of time during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Although both episodes met the official criteria for MIS-C, this case illustrates the difficulty in distinguishing MIS-C from its main differential diagnosis, Kawasaki disease (KD). Recurrence of postviral hyperinflammatory disease is rare. Compared with KD, the recurrence of MIS-C is even rarer, but clinicians should be aware of this possibility. Our case also emphasizes the need to follow up these patients closely and to detect sequelae regularly, especially cardiovascular sequelae, at an early stage.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MONDO:0100163), Kawasaki disease (MONDO:0012727), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (MONDO:0100096)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** KD (MESH:D009080), hyperinflammatory disease (MESH:D004194), postviral hyperinflammatory disease (MESH:D015673), cardiovascular sequelae (MESH:D002318), infection (MESH:D007239), Multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MESH:C000705967)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (no rank) [taxon 2697049]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

30 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12176839/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12176839