Kawasaki Disease

Children are prone to numerous diseases that could be serious, such as Kawasaki disease. This disease leads to extremely severe complications if not managed rapidly.

Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes vasculitis, which, in turn, makes the vessels weak and stretched, and that could make them rupture or narrow and decrease the blood flow through them; therefore, it decreases the nourishments for the organs that these vessels reach.

Kawasaki disease is very rare, and in most cases, it affects children in the ages between 6 months and 5 years.

Causes of Kawasaki disease

There isn’t a known reason for Kawasaki syndrome, and currently the researchers are studying the possible causes, which might be genetic, environmental, or due to some infections. It’s also been noticed that the case rate increases in late winter and the beginning of spring.

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease

• Swollen and red hands or feet.
• Fever that lasts for at least five days.
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
• Red eyes without discharges.
• Abdominal pain.
• Redness or cracking in the lips or tongues.
• Rash, mostly in the trunk or in other places.
• Skin peeling, which usually starts around the nails.
• Irritability.
• Nausea and vomiting.

Complications of Kawasaki disease

• Coronary artery rupture.
• Heart inflammation or infections.
• Inflammation in the liver, lungs, or pancreas.
• Aneurysms (stretched blood vessels) in the coronary arteries.
• Blood clots.
• Heart failure.
• Heart attack.
• Problems in the heart valves.

Diagnosis of Kawasaki disease

There isn’t a specific test to diagnose Kawasaki disease, but the diagnosis is done by excluding other conditions, which is done by:

• Physical examination.
• Blood and urine tests.
• Imaging tests.

Treatment of Kawasaki disease

• Medications.
• Managing the symptoms.