Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Associated with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in a Child with Covid-19 and Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Case Report

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), has uncontrollable effects on many organs. A great number of previously published scientific reports have revealed that patients with diabetes mellitus face a more severe form of Covid-19 with a higher death rate. Here we present the case of a 13-year-old unvaccinated boy who was admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with a history of fever, cough, dyspnea, throat pain, nausea, and confusion that progressed to lethargy after 24 h. On clinical examination, he was in a coma with Kussmaul’s breathing, and was anuric. His blood biochemical analysis demonstrated hyperglycemia, severe metabolic acidosis, kidney failure, electrolyte disturbances, and inflammation. Chest x-ray showed pneumonia and a pleural effusion. The results of the SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction were positive. The patient was diagnosed with Covid-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children secondary to his acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus with diabetic ketoacidosis. He was intubated for invasive mechanical ventilation and received a normal saline infusion and continuous insulin infusion (0.1 IU/kg/h) for the treatment of his diabetic ketoacidosis. He was also treated with methylprednisolone, aspirin, and heparin, and underwent continuous renal replacement therapy for acute renal failure for 9 days. The patient was discharged from ICU on day 16 and was followed up regularly as an outpatient with daily treatment, including subcutaneous insulin injection (30 IU/day) and a calcium channel blocker for hypertension (nifedipine 20 mg/day).