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Kawasaki disease

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Infantile polyarteritis

Treatment:

Children with Kawasaki disease are admitted to the hospital. Treatment must be started as soon as the diagnosis is made to prevent damage to the coronary arteries and heart.

Intravenous gamma globulin is the standard treatment. It is given in high doses. The child's condition usually greatly improves within 24 hours of treatment with IV gamma globulin.

High-dose aspirin is often given along with IV gamma globulin.

Despite aspirin and IVIG treatment, 10-15% of children still develop problems in their coronary arteries. Some research has suggested that adding steroids to the usual treatment routine may improve a child's outcome, but more research is needed.

Expectations (prognosis):

With early recognition and treatment, full recovery can be expected. However, 2% of patients die from complications of coronary blood vessel inflammation. Patients who have had Kawasaki disease should have an echocardiogram every 1-2 years to screen for heart problems.

Complications:

Complications involving the heart, including vessel inflammation and aneurysm, can cause a heart attack at a young age or later in life.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of Kawasaki disease develop. A persistent high fever that does not come down with acetaminophen or ibuprofen and lasts more than 24 hours should be evaluated by a health care provider.

References:

Burns, JC. Revisiting steroids in the primary treatment of acute Kawasaki disease. J Pediatric s. 2006; 149: 291-292.

Freeman AF, Shulman ST. Kawasaki disease: summary of the American Heart Association guidelines. Am Fam Physician . 2006 Oct 1;74(7):1141-8.

• Review Date: 11/29/2006
• Reviewed By: Mark James Borigini, Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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