What Is Kawasaki Disease?
Kawasaki disease, also known as Kawasaki syndrome is an inflammatory disease that is potentially fatal affecting the circulatory system, heart, skin, mucous membranes and the immune system generally in infants and children younger than five years of age. Aneurysms, due to the inflamed coronary arteries lead to stenosis or coronary artery thrombosis,aneurysm rupture, myocardial infarction and sudden death. The cause of this condition is unknown, but there has been an hypothesis linking this condition to genetically susceptible children experiencing abnormal immunological reaction to an infection.
Clinical manifestation of Kawasaki syndrome include an abrupt onset of fever ranging as high as 104°F (40°C), body rash spread over chest and genital
area, very red lips and tongue with a strawberry appearance. Additionally, the mucous membranes lining the eyelids, conjunctiva, palms and sole becomes swollen and purplish-red. Furthermore, the neck lymph nodes may also become swollen and the high fever is followed by skin peeling beginning at toe and fingertips with symptoms lasting between two weeks to three months, with some patients experiencing relapse.
Moreover, some patients may develop pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, dry lips, arthritis or joint pain, hepatitis, and inflammation of the tonsils, gallbladder and lungs in addition to the above listed symptoms.
Myocarditis, aneurysms, arrhythmias, arteritis are cardiovascular complications about 20% of patients with Kawasaki syndrome develop about the tenth day after the fever and rash lessens with some patients developing gangrene in their hands and feet .
Treatment of Kawasaki syndrome involve the reduction of possible coronary artery, skin inflammation and fever. This is accomplished through the combination of aspirin and high dose intravenous globulin.
Clinical manifestation of Kawasaki syndrome include an abrupt onset of fever ranging as high as 104°F (40°C), body rash spread over chest and genital
area, very red lips and tongue with a strawberry appearance. Additionally, the mucous membranes lining the eyelids, conjunctiva, palms and sole becomes swollen and purplish-red. Furthermore, the neck lymph nodes may also become swollen and the high fever is followed by skin peeling beginning at toe and fingertips with symptoms lasting between two weeks to three months, with some patients experiencing relapse.
Moreover, some patients may develop pneumonia, meningitis, diarrhea, dry lips, arthritis or joint pain, hepatitis, and inflammation of the tonsils, gallbladder and lungs in addition to the above listed symptoms.
Myocarditis, aneurysms, arrhythmias, arteritis are cardiovascular complications about 20% of patients with Kawasaki syndrome develop about the tenth day after the fever and rash lessens with some patients developing gangrene in their hands and feet .
Treatment of Kawasaki syndrome involve the reduction of possible coronary artery, skin inflammation and fever. This is accomplished through the combination of aspirin and high dose intravenous globulin.