What is kawasaki disease?

Infectious disease: Kawasaki disease is an uncommon infectious disease in children ages 1-8. However, recognition and treatment are extremely important in order to prevent coronary artery disease in children affected by it. A high fever (>102 f) lasting for more than 5 days, red eyes, red tongue/lips/throat, rash, swelling of hands and feet, and a swollen neck gland are the typical constellation of symptoms.

Fever plus...: Kawasaki disease is a potentially serious illness including high fevers for several days, plus irritability, rashes, red eyes, and several other characteristic symptoms. It's most common in toddlers and young children.

Inflammatory disease: Kawasaki disease is a childhood illness. Symptoms may include high fever, rash with later peeling skin, extreme irritability, conjunctivitis/red eyes, irritated oral mucous membranes, a "strawberry tongue, " and swollen lymph nodes. Iv antibody replacement and high dose Aspirin can help prevent cardiac complications including coronary artery aneurysms (weakness/ballooning of the vessel walls).

Artery inflammation: The exact cause is unknown but it causes swelling in arteries throughout the body. Watch http://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=lxtuw8pmpyk and http://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=smw9yipnacg to learn more.

Serious illness: KD is an acute febrile vasculitis syndrome of childhood. Also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. Symptoms are fever, rash, conjunctival injection, cervical lymphadenitis, inflammation of the lips and oral cavity, and erythema and edema of the hands and feet. Coronary aneurysms develop in 25% of untreated children. It is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the USA.