Challenges in diagnostic research of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19 in combination with the early stage of Epstein-Barr virus infection

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 is a rare life-threatening immunopathological complication of COVID-19 that develops 1-6 weeks after the acute coronavirus infection. MIS-C is characterized by fever and multiorgan inflammation.
We present a clinical case of a 10-year-old boy with skin lesions at the onset of MIS-C (erythematous malar rash, lacelike rash on the trunk and extremities and petechiae) with macrophage activation syndrome development and the early stage of primary Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV infection) which required the exclusion of X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.
This clinical case demonstrates the complexity of diagnosis in MIS-C with skin manifestations at the onset of the disease, especially with concurrent activation of other infections, particularly EBV infection.

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