Kawasaki's Disease- All You Need To Know

In children with Kawasaki illness, the walls of the small to medium-sized blood arteries that transport blood throughout the body enlarge (are inflamed). Coronary artery inflammation from Kawasaki illness frequently affects the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. Because it also results in swelling of the glands (lymph nodes) and mucous membranes within the mouth, nose, eyes, and throat, Kawasaki illness was formerly known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. Kawasaki disease in children can cause high fevers, swollen hands and feet with peeling skin, as well as red eyes and tongues. However, if Kawasaki disease is treated within 10 days of start, the majority of kids recover without experiencing any major issues.

Signs and Symptoms

A kid typically needs at least four of the following symptoms plus a temperature of 102.2 F (39 C) for five or more days in order to be diagnosed with Kawasaki disease.

• a rash across the body's major organs or near the genitalia
• a neck lymph node that has grown larger
• red eyes that don't have a thick discharge
• Lips that are exceedingly red and swollen, with cracked, dry lips as well
• Skin on the palms of the hands and the bottoms of the feet that is swollen, red, and subsequently begins to peel

It's crucial to inform your child's doctor about any signs or symptoms that have subsided as the symptoms might not manifest at the same time. Other warning signs and symptoms that could appear are:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Joint pain
• Vomiting

Incomplete Kawasaki disease is characterized by children who have had a high fever for five or more days but fewer than four of the aforementioned signs and symptoms. Children with incomplete Kawasaki illness still need to be treated within 10 days of the onset of symptoms because they still run the risk of suffering from coronary artery damage. Children with COVID-19 have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome, which can resemble the symptoms of Kawasaki illness. Children who exhibit these symptoms will likely also have their COVID-19 levels evaluated.

Contact your child's doctor if the fever lasts more than three days in your youngster. If Kawasaki disease is treated within 10 days of the onset, there may be a significant reduction in the possibility of long-term damage to the coronary arteries feeding the heart muscle.

Causes

Although the cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown, doctors do not think that it is infectious from one person to another. Some believe that Kawasaki disease is caused by various environmental factors or that it develops following a bacterial or viral infection. It's possible that some genes increase a child's risk of developing Kawasaki disease.

Risk factors

There are three things that are known to make a kid more likely to get Kawasaki disease.

Age. The risk of Kawasaki disease is higher in children under the age of five.

Sex. Kawasaki illness is more likely to affect boys than girls.

Ethnicity. Kawasaki disease is more common in children of Asian or Pacific Island ancestry, including Japanese or Korean children.

Kawasaki illness typically has a seasonal occurrence. It typically happens in North America in the winter and early spring.

Complications

In affluent nations, Kawasaki illness is one of the main causes of congenital heart disease in children. Few children, however, suffer permanent harm after receiving treatment. Heart problems include:

Inflammation of the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart, typically the coronary arteries

Muscle inflammation in the heart

Cardiac valve issues

Any one of these issues can harm the heart. A weakening and bulging of the arterial wall can result from inflammation of the coronary arteries (aneurysm). Aneurysms raise the possibility of blood clots, which can result in a heart attack or potentially fatal internal bleeding.
Kawasaki disease can result in death for a tiny percentage of children who experience coronary artery issues.