Kawasaki disease is found most often in children under the age of five. Children of Asian descent are affected more often than other ethnicities and it occurs more frequently in boys than girls. The cause of the disease has not been established.
Kawasaki disease was first described in Japan in 1967 and the first case diagnosed in the United States was in Hawaii in 1976. It is a disease that causes inflammation of the medium sized arterial blood vessels, primarily those that supply the heart with blood.
There are three phases of the disease.
Phase 1
- Fever of 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts more than three days
- Very red eyes
- Rash on the body, and around the genitals
- Swollen tongue that is very red in color
- Irritation of the mouth and nose
- Swollen hands and feet that become very red
- Swollen lymph nodes
Phase 2
- Skin peels on the hands and feet
- Body rash
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Irritability
- Joint pain
Phase 3
- After a few weeks the symptoms usually start to go away
To diagnose the disease a doctor will do a complete physical exam and look for four out of five of the following symptoms: red eyes, red lips and mouth, rash, enlarged lymph nodes and red swollen limbs. Other tests that may be necessary are an EKG, blood test and possibly an angiogram of the heart.
Treatment of Kawasaki usually will include medication such as aspirin to relieve discomfort and to help prevent blood clots. It also may be necessary to administer intravenous immune globulin to help fight the infection. If the disease is left untreated, it can cause damage to the heart. It is also possible for blood clots to form due to weakening of the walls of the blood vessels. Follow up visits with a doctor are recommended to make sure that there is no long lasting heart problems.
If your child has a fever of 101 degrees F to 103 degrees F for more than three days and any of the signs of this disease are noticed, it is important to see a doctor right away. If you would like to schedule an appointment with a physician at Flushing Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-670-5486 or go to your closest Emergency Room.
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