Kawasaki Disease

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it?

• Kawasaki (kow-uh-sah-kee) disease (KD) is a serious illness in children. It usually affects children less than 5 years of age, but older children can get it too. It can damage a child's blood vessels, such as the heart arteries. This damage may cause your child to have a heart attack.
  
  
• KD is more common in boys and in children of Asian background. This disease is seen more often from December to May. The illness usually lasts 2 to 3 weeks. But some KD signs and symptoms may last longer. Most children get better with treatment. Although rare, some children with heart damage from KD may die.

Causes: It is not known what causes Kawasaki disease. Germs called viruses or bacteria (bak-teer-e-uh) may cause KD. A fungus may be another possible cause of KD. Rug shampoo or dust mites may also cause this illness. Your child cannot get KD from another person. There is no way to keep from getting Kawasaki disease.

Signs and Symptoms: Your child may have any of the following signs and symptoms.

• Crying and very fussy.
  
  
• Dry, red, cracked lips.
  
  
• Fever for five days.
  
  
• Joint swelling and tenderness.
  
  
• Red-colored tongue that may have small raised bumps ("strawberry tongue").
  
  
• Red eyes.
  
  
• Redness, swelling, and possibly peeling of skin on the palms of hands and soles of feet.
  
  
• Skin rash.
  
  
• Swollen neck lymph nodes.

Care: KD can be treated most of the time. Your child will need to go into the hospital for tests and treatment. Then, your child will probably be seen in a clinic or caregiver's office. Ask your caregiver for information about KD to help you understand about the different tests and treatments. Your child will need to go into the hospital for any of the following tests and treatment.

• Blood and urine tests.
  
  
• EKG.
  
  
• Echocardiogram.
  
  
• Lumbar Puncture.
  
  
• Aspirin and gamma globulin medicine.
  
  
• Eye check-up.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page