This condition is also known as Kawasaki Syndrome. This is a condition that causes a constant fever of unknown cause that usually affects children that are 5 years of age and younger. The disease was first identified in Japan in 1967 but has since been reported in many other places. This condition causes severe inflammation throughout the body, and it can be life-threatening in rare cases.
The most common symptoms of Kawasaki Disease are:
A rash on the body trunk or in the genital area
There are other symptoms that develop in more serious cases, such as:
Your child’s fever might be very high for about four or five days if they have Kawasaki Disease. Some children never display any other symptoms than a high fever, which is referred to as Incomplete Kawasaki Disease.
This condition can mimic symptoms of things like COVID-19, which can complicate diagnosis in some cases.
The cause of Kawasaki Disease is not known. Scientists do not think that the illness is contagious. It is believed that this condition follows a bacterial or fungal infection or that environmental factors might cause it in some cases. It is possible that there is a hereditary or genetic link involved as well.
The risk factors for Kawasaki Disease are:
Diagnosis of this condition can be complex in some cases because there is no specific test for this condition. Since the symptoms of Kawasaki Disease can mimic COVID-19, your child will likely be tested for COVID as part of the early diagnosis process. Scarlet Fever is usually also ruled out, and genetic tests might be done to confirm that your child does not have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Other illnesses that can appear similar to Kawasaki Disease are measles, tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, or toxic-shock syndrome.
Providers might order blood tests to look at blood cell counts and to verify that the organs of the body are not affected by the illness. Electrocardiogram or echocardiogram tests can be done to ensure that the heart is working correctly and that there is no involvement with the coronary arteries, which can be present in severe cases.
Treatment of Kawasaki Disease needs to begin as soon as possible. Ideally, the illness is treated while the child still has a fever. Aspirin can be given to reduce inflammation in the body and to bring down fever. Gamma globulin is an immune protein that is often given through infusion, which can lower the risk of damage to the coronary arteries. Many patients are kept in the hospital for at least a few days to make sure that no serious health complications arise.
Children will be released home on an aspirin protocol which will be slowly reduced over time. This will help to prevent blood clots and the risk of damage to the heart. Follow-up tests to verify heart health also must be done about 6 to 8 weeks after the resolution of symptoms. If your child was given gamma-globulin, they will be unable to get vaccines for 11 months afterward. This is because this treatment protocol can cause vaccinations to be less effective.
There is no way to prevent Kawasaki Disease since the cause is not known at this time. If someone in your family has had this condition, it is possible that your child will be more likely to get it, but a genetic connection to Kawasaki Disease is still not confirmed.