KAWASAKI DISEASE
GNANA SOUNDARI
SUPRIYA SELVARAJ
5TH COURSE
KAWASAKI DISEASE
• Kawasaki disease is a condition that mainly affects children under the age of 5. It's
also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
• Kawasaki disease causes the blood vessels to become inflamed and swollen, which
can lead to complications in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary
arteries).
• Without treatment, around 1 in 4 children with Kawasaki disease get heart complications.
This can be fatal in about 2 to 3% of [Link] of this, Kawasaki disease is one of
the main causes of acquired heart disease in children under 5 in the UK. Acquired heart
disease develops after birth.
CAUSES
• The cause of Kawasaki disease isn't fully understood, but a child may be
more likely to develop it if they inherit certain genes from their parents.
• Infection
• The symptoms of Kawasaki disease are similar to those of an infection, so
bacteria or a virus may be responsible. But so far a bacterial or viral cause
hasn't been [Link] Kawasaki disease isn't contagious, it can't be passed
from one person to another. This makes it unlikely that it's caused by a virus
[Link] disease can affect children of any age. It can be more serious
in children under the age of 1.
• Genetics
• The children who develop Kawasaki disease may be genetically predisposed to it.
• This means the genes they inherit from their parents may make them more likely to get
the condition.
• One theory is that rather than there being a single gene responsible for Kawasaki
disease, it may be the result of many genes that each slightly increase the chances of a
child developing the condition.
• Kawasaki disease is more common in children from northeast Asia, especially Japan and
Korea.
• This also suggests there may be a genetic cause.
SYMPTOMS
• The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually develop in 3 phases over a 6-week period.
• Phase 1: acute (weeks 1 to 2)
• Your child's symptoms will appear suddenly and may be severe. Your child may be very
irritable.
• High temperature
• Rash: Your child will almost always have a skin rash. This can vary in appearance from
child to child.
• Hands and feet: Your child’s hands and feet may swell up, and the skin on their hands and
feet may become red or hard.
• Conjunctival injection:Conjunctival injection is where the whites of the eyes become red
and swollen. Both eyes are usually affected, but the condition isn't painful.
• Phase 2: sub-acute (weeks 2 to 4)
• Symptoms during the second phase of Kawasaki disease may include:
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• pee that contains pus
• feeling drowsy and lacking energy (lethargic)
• headache
• joint pain and swollen joints
• yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• peeling skin on the hands and feet, and sometimes also on the palms of the hands or the
soles of the feet
• Phase 3: convalescent (weeks 4 to 6)
• Your child will begin to recover during the third phase of Kawasaki disease, which is
known as the convalescent phase.
• Their symptoms should begin to improve and all signs of the illness should eventually
disappear.
• But your child may still have a lack of energy and tire easily during this time.
DIAGNOSIS
• There's no single test to diagnose Kawasaki disease, but there are some key signs that
suggest a child may have this condition.
• The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that your child may have
Kawasaki disease if they have:
• a high temperature for 5 days or longer
• at least 1 other key symptom
• These symptoms include:
• conjunctival infection in both eyes
• changes to the mouth or throat
• changes to the hands and feet
• a rash
• swollen lymph nodes in the neck
• Tests
• Your child may need to have tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing
their symptoms.
• Possible conditions your child could have include:
• scarlet fever – a bacterial infection that causes a distinctive pink-red rash
• toxic shock syndrome – a rare, life-threatening bacterial infection
• measles – a highly infectious viral illness that causes a fever and distinctive red-
brown spots
• glandular fever – a viral infection that can cause a fever and swollen lymph glands
• Several tests can also be carried out to help support a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease.
• These include:
• a urine sample – to see whether it contains white blood cells
• blood tests – such as a white blood cell count or platelet count
• a lumbar puncture – a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken by inserting a needle
between the vertebrae of the lower spine
• electrocardiogram (ECG)
TREATMENT
• Kawasaki disease is treated in hospital as it can cause serious complications.
Treatment should begin as soon as possible.
• It may take longer for your child to recover if Kawasaki disease isn't treated promptly.
• Their risk of developing complications will also be increased.
• The 2 main treatments for Kawasaki disease are:
• aspirin
• intravenous immunoglobulin
