Frontiers in Pediatrics (Feb 2021)

Case Report: Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Keto-Acidosis in a Child With COVID-19

  • Karin Nielsen-Saines,
  • Erica Li,
  • Adriana Martinez Olivera,
  • Rachel Martin-Blais,
  • Yonca Bulut

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.628810
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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During the COVID pandemic, a surge in pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) cases appears to be occurring, potentially due to the presence of autoantibody-induced immune dysregulation triggered by COVID-19. We describe one such case in a previously healthy 7-year-old with asymptomatic COVID-19 presenting with a high nasopharyngeal SARS CoV-2 virus load, detectable COVID-19 IgG antibodies, diabetic keto-acidosis and islet cell autoantibodies. COVID-19 is not a trivial disease in children and adolescents and can lead to lifelong sequelae such as T1DM. Raising awareness about a possible association between COVID-19 and T1DM in children is critical.

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