The Kawasaki Disease (KD) is a non-specific disease that attacks the mucous membranes, walls of the blood vessels, heart and lymph nodes. The cause of KD hasn’t been determined.

It was first described in Japan, and now it is more frequently noticed in the USA. The risk factors, other than age, are unknown. KD is a disease of young children, with 80 % of affected children younger than five years of age.

This disease is poorly understood. It appears to be an autoimmune vasculitis, which is an autoimmune disorder. This disorder affects the heart, lymph nodes, walls of the blood vessels and the mucous membranes. The cardiac complications are the most important part of the disease. KD can cause vasculitis in the coronary arteries and it can also cause coronary artery aneurysms. Aneurysms can lead to a heart attack even in children, but are very rare.

This disease often begins with a high fever that isn’t very responsive to normal doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The fever may last up to two to three weeks. Children develop red eyes, red cracked lips, strawberry tongue, and swollen lymph nodes. The child may get skin rashes or flaky peeling skin in the genital area, hands and feet.

The following are some symptoms of Kawasaki Disease:

• Fever that is higher than 102 degrees ferenheight and after 104 degrees fehrenheight that remains high for more than three days
• Fever that doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medications
• Bloodshot or red eyes
• Red chapped, or cracked lips
• Strawberry tongue, white coating or red bumps on the tongue
• Swollen hands and feet
• Peeling palms and sloes
• Rashes, non-blister like
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Joint pain

A physical examination will demonstrate many of the symptoms listed above.  A child with KD will be hospitalized. They will be put under the care of pediatric, cardiology and infectious disease doctors. It is important that treatment is started as soon as possible to prevent damage to the coronary arteries and heart.

 

Intravenous gamma globulin is the standard treatment for this disease and is given in high doses. Usually improvement is noticed within 24 hours of treatment. Patients with this disease should have an echocardiogram every 1-2 years. Call your doctor if the symptoms of KD develop. Your doctor should evaluate a high-grade fever that is unresponsive to fever-reducing medication and lasts more than 24 hours. There are no known measures that will prevent this disease.