Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is an illness in which there is inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Kawasaki disease was named after the Japanese paediatrician who first described it.
Kawasaki disease mainly affects preschool children, but older children can also develop the disease.
The cause of the disease is not known, although it is thought that infection may play a role. However, the risk of another child in the same family developing Kawasaki disease is very low.
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease
Children with Kawasaki disease usually have a high fever that persists for 5 days or more. Other symptoms may include:
- swelling and redness of the hands and feet (often followed by peeling of the skin);
- a rash on the body;
- red eyes (conjunctivitis);
- redness of the lips (which may also be dry and cracked) and tongue; and
- swollen glands in the neck.
Children with Kawasaki disease will often be quite irritable and may also have joint pains, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Complications
Kawasaki disease can also cause inflammation of the heart muscle or blood vessels of the heart (coronary arteries), which can be a potentially serious problem. If you suspect that your child may have Kawasaki disease, you should seek medical attention straight away.
Diagnosis and tests
Doctors will usually make the diagnosis based on your history, physical examination and blood tests.
Ultrasound scanning of the heart (echocardiography) will be performed to look for changes in the coronary arteries.
Treatment of Kawasaki disease
The treatment of Kawasaki disease involves injection of high doses of antibodies (immunoglobulins) into a vein through a drip. The fever and many of the other symptoms will improve quite quickly with this therapy.
Treatment with immunoglobulins also helps to prevent your child developing complications of the disease, in particular those that affect the heart.
Aspirin is also given to help reduce the risk of blood clots. It may also be given to help reduce the inflammation.
Most children with Kawasaki disease will make a full recovery. Children with the disease who develop a problem with the heart will need long-term follow-up by a heart specialist.
Last Reviewed: 01 February 2012
- 1. Vasculitis in children (revised October 2010). In: eTG complete. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2011 Nov. http://online.tg.org.au/complete/ (Feb 2012).
2. Mayo Clinic.com. Kawasaki disease (last updated 28 Jan 2011). http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kawasaki-disease/DS00576 (accessed Feb 2012).
