PITTSBURGH — A one-year-old Shaler girl is celebrating her first birthday in Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh after being diagnosed with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.
It’s a condition that inflames a child’s body after being exposed to COVID-19.
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The child’s mother, Torri Martuseavich, had no idea her daughter even had COVID-19 until she rushed her to Children’s after the girl developed a high fever that wouldn’t break.
“They’re making us feel at home,” Martuseavich said. “I’d rather be here than sitting at home seeing her in pain. Two days ago, her eyes were swollen shut.”
Doctors found out her daughter had MIS-C.
For parents with small children who can’t communicate about what hurts, Allegheny Health Network pediatrician Dr. Michael Petrosky said a fever that won’t go down is a tell-tale sign of the illness.
“The thing that we have seen most is persistent fevers. Fevers 2, 3, 4, 5 days,” Petrosky said. “Overall they just look ill. With most viral illnesses, even flu, you can get their temperature down and they appear to be playful throughout the day. These kids aren’t.”
Martuseavich’s daughter is improving and was released from the ICU.
“Just seeing her hold her arms up asking for me to pick her up, it was a blessing,” she said.
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