Abstract In this study, we report the occurrence of multisystemic inflammatory syndrome among 64 children (2 deaths) with recent severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infections in the northeast region of Brazil. The major clinical symptoms and signs reported were exanthema (60.9%), abdominal pain (56.3%), nausea and vomiting (46.9%), diarrhea (37.5%), and dyspnea (37.5%). Laboratory findings revealed that the levels of C-reactive protein (75.0%), hemoglobin (51.6%), D-dimer (48.4%), lymphocytes (43.8%), LDH (45.3%), AST (42.2%), ALT (51.6%), and ferritin (48.4%) were above the reference values for a given age and gender. The clinical findings were similar to those observed in Kawasaki disease, although it represents a separate entity, emphasizing the need for proactive surveillance and early treatment.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 emerged in late 2019 and quickly became a serious public health problem worldwide. This study aim to describe the epidemiological course of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 and their impact on hospital bed occupancy rates in the first 45 days of the epidemic in the state of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: The study used an ecological design with data gathered from multiple government and health care sources. Data were analyzed using Epi Info software. RESULTS: The first cases were confirmed on March 15, 2020. After 45 days, 37,268 cases reported in 85.9% of Ceará’s municipalities, with 1,019 deaths. Laboratory test positivity reached 84.8% at the end of April, a period in which more than 700 daily tests were processed. The average age of cases was 67 (<1 - 101) years, most occurred in a hospital environment (91.9%), and 58% required hospitalization in an ICU bed. The average time between the onset of symptoms and death was 18 (1 - 56) days. Patients who died in the hospital had spent an average of six (0 - 40) days hospitalized. Across Ceará, the bed occupancy rate reached 71.3% in the wards and 80.5% in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: The first 45 days of the COVID-19 epidemic in Ceará revealed a large number of cases and deaths, spreading initially among the population with a high socioeconomic status. Despite the efforts by the health services and social isolation measures the health system still collapsed.

Resumo Objetivo: descrever a experiência e os resultados preliminares do Comitê de Investigação de Óbitos por Arboviroses no Ceará, Brasil, em 2017. Métodos: o Comitê investiga e discute todos os casos suspeitos de óbitos por arboviroses notificados pela vigilância epidemiológica. Resultados: foram notificados 443 óbitos suspeitos de arboviroses e 220 (49,7%) foram confirmados; destes, 88,2% por chikungunya e 11,8% por dengue; a mediana de idade dos óbitos por chikungunya foi mais elevada, quando comparada à da dengue (77 versus 56 anos), e o tempo de evolução até o óbito também foi mais prolongado, quando comparado ao da dengue (38 versus 12 dias); para o encerramento dos casos, a mediana foi de 54,5 dias; em 2017, o Ceará confirmou 80,4% dos óbitos por chikungunya no Brasil. Conclusão: a análise dos óbitos mostrou que o CHIKV foi o responsável pela maior parte dos óbitos por arboviroses no estado do Ceará, em 2017.

Abstract Objective: to describe the experience and preliminary results of the Arbovirus Death Investigation Committee in Ceará, Brazil, in 2017. Methods: the Committee investigates and discusses all suspected cases of arbovirus deaths reported by the epidemiological surveillance service. Results: a total of 443 suspected arbovirus deaths were reported, 220 (49.7%) of which were confirmed; of these, 88.2% were from chikungunya and 11.8% from dengue; the median age of chikungunya deaths was higher when compared to dengue (77 versus 56 years) and the time until death was also longer when compared to dengue (38 versus 12 days); median time for case closure was 54.5 days; in 2017, Ceará confirmed 80.4% of Brazilian chikungunya deaths. Conclusion: the investigation of deaths showed that CHIK viruses were responsible for the majority of arboviral deaths in the state of Ceará, in 2017.

Resumen Objetivo: describir la experiencia y los resultados preliminares del Comité de Investigación de Óbitos por Arbovirus desarrollada en Ceará, Brasil, en 2017. Métodos: el comité discute los casos sospechosos de muertes por arbovirus notificados por la vigilancia epidemiológica. Resultados: se notificaron 443 óbitos sospechosos y 220 (49,7%) fueron confirmados; de estos, 88,2% por chikungunya y 11,8% por dengue; el promedio de edad de los fallecimientos por chikungunya fue más elevado (77 versus 56 años) y el tiempo de evolución hasta el óbito más prolongado, en comparación con el dengue (38 versus 12 días); para el cierre de los casos el promedio fue de 54,5 días; en 2017, Ceará confirmó 80,4% de las muertes por chikungunya en Brasil. Conclusión: El análisis de muertes mostró que CHIKV fue responsable de la mayoría de las muertes por arbovirus en el estado de Ceará, en 2017.

Resumo Objetivo: descrever a experiência e os resultados preliminares do Comitê de Investigação de Óbitos por Arboviroses no Ceará, Brasil, em 2017. Métodos: o Comitê investiga e discute todos os casos suspeitos de óbitos por arboviroses notificados pela vigilância epidemiológica. Resultados: foram notificados 443 óbitos suspeitos de arboviroses e 220 (49,7%) foram confirmados; destes, 88,2% por chikungunya e 11,8% por dengue; a mediana de idade dos óbitos por chikungunya foi mais elevada, quando comparada à da dengue (77 versus 56 anos), e o tempo de evolução até o óbito também foi mais prolongado, quando comparado ao da dengue (38 versus 12 dias); para o encerramento dos casos, a mediana foi de 54,5 dias; em 2017, o Ceará confirmou 80,4% dos óbitos por chikungunya no Brasil. Conclusão: a análise dos óbitos mostrou que o CHIKV foi o responsável pela maior parte dos óbitos por arboviroses no estado do Ceará, em 2017.

Abstract Objective: to describe the experience and preliminary results of the Arbovirus Death Investigation Committee in Ceará, Brazil, in 2017. Methods: the Committee investigates and discusses all suspected cases of arbovirus deaths reported by the epidemiological surveillance service. Results: a total of 443 suspected arbovirus deaths were reported, 220 (49.7%) of which were confirmed; of these, 88.2% were from chikungunya and 11.8% from dengue; the median age of chikungunya deaths was higher when compared to dengue (77 versus 56 years) and the time until death was also longer when compared to dengue (38 versus 12 days); median time for case closure was 54.5 days; in 2017, Ceará confirmed 80.4% of Brazilian chikungunya deaths. Conclusion: the investigation of deaths showed that CHIK viruses were responsible for the majority of arboviral deaths in the state of Ceará, in 2017.

Resumen Objetivo: describir la experiencia y los resultados preliminares del Comité de Investigación de Óbitos por Arbovirus desarrollada en Ceará, Brasil, en 2017. Métodos: el comité discute los casos sospechosos de muertes por arbovirus notificados por la vigilancia epidemiológica. Resultados: se notificaron 443 óbitos sospechosos y 220 (49,7%) fueron confirmados; de estos, 88,2% por chikungunya y 11,8% por dengue; el promedio de edad de los fallecimientos por chikungunya fue más elevado (77 versus 56 años) y el tiempo de evolución hasta el óbito más prolongado, en comparación con el dengue (38 versus 12 días); para el cierre de los casos el promedio fue de 54,5 días; en 2017, Ceará confirmó 80,4% de las muertes por chikungunya en Brasil. Conclusión: El análisis de muertes mostró que CHIKV fue responsable de la mayoría de las muertes por arbovirus en el estado de Ceará, en 2017.