Kawasaki Disease: Symptoms and Treatment

Kawasaki disease affects the skin, mouth, nose, throat, lymph nodes and linings of the blood vessels. The disease is so called, as it was identified for the first time by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki of Japan, in 1967. It is also referred to as Kawasaki syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. Though, Kawasaki disease can affect older children and teenagers, it is estimated that 80 percent of patients are below 5 years. It occurs mostly among boys than girls.

Causes of Kawasaki disease are still unknown; the possible cause may be due to genetic and environmental factors. It is believed that viral infections and immune system also play a major role in the development of Kawasaki disease. Some scientific studies have claimed that it is caused after exposure to chemicals and allergies. However, till date there is no proof as to how Kawasaki disease is developed. It is found to be non-contagious.

Kawasaki Disease: Symptoms

The first notable sign of Kawasaki disease is high fever, usually higher than 39° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit), that remains persistent for at least 5 days to about 2 weeks. It is possible that the child may have seizure, because of the high body temperature. In the following days, symptoms are accompanied with irritability and restlessness. Following is the list of symptoms that are associated with Kawasaki disease:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Sore throat
• Redness in the eyes
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Red, dry and cracked lips
• Joint pain
• Red and swollen palms and soles
• Peeling skin, especially the palms, nails and soles
• Skin rash, mostly in the trunk portion and/or genitals
• Strawberry tongue (white covering in the tongue, with papillae)

For an untreated Kawasaki disease, there are chances that it affects the heart and causes certain problems like vasculitis (inflammation in the blood vessels), arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythm), inflammation of the heart muscles and membrane lining (pericarditis) and in some cases, meningitis (inflammation of meninges). About 20 percent kids with Kawasaki disease develop heart problems and approximately 2 percent of them die due to these complications each year. In the United States, it is the leading cause of heart disease among children.

Kawasaki Disease: Treatment

Timely diagnosis of Kawasaki disease helps in preventing the possible health complications of the illness. Kawasaki disease is diagnosed based on the symptoms and physical examination. It can be confirmed after conducting a series of diagnostic tests such as blood test, urine test, electrocardiogram (ECG) and liver function tests. As already mentioned, Patients usually recover within a few days, if treatment is done early, on the onset of the first symptom.

Treatment of Kawasaki disease is aimed at reducing pain, inflammation, blood clot formation and aneurysms in the coronary arteries. Treatment is done by administering salicylic acid (aspirin) and intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG). If pain persists, the physician may prescribe over the counter medications like pain-relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. In case of patients who are non-responsive to these medications, the doctor may perform plasma exchange, also known as plasmapheresis. It is a procedure that involves the removal of a portion of plasma from the patient's blood, and replacing it with protein-enriched fluids.

It is advisable that patients who have had Kawasaki disease should opt for ECG regularly, for the first few weeks. In the following years, ECG should be conducted every year. This will help in evaluating and preventing the onset of heart disease. Since, Kawasaki disease mostly occur in winter and spring seasons, proper care should be taken in terms of the kid's health during such a period, to avoid development of the disease.