Kawasaki disease is a rare disease of childhood. It is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Kawasaki disease causes swelling and inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels. It also affects the mucous membranes, lymph nodes, and the heart. The heart problems are the most worrisome part of the disease. The inflammation of blood vessels in the arteries of the heart (coronary arteries) can lead to aneurysms. An aneurysm is a weak area in the blood vessel that balloons out. Such aneurysms can lead to a heart attack. This may happen even in young children. It is very uncommon.
Kawasaki disease is more common in boys and usually at less than five years of age. No cause is known. More cases happen in the late winter and early spring. Children with Kawasaki disease are similar in some ways to children with other illnesses, like a viral infection. Kawasaki disease is probably not spread from person to person. Kawasaki disease can last between 2 to 12 weeks. But children feel better shortly after starting treatment.
Kawasaki disease often begins with a high and lasting fever greater than 102°F (38.9°C), often as high as 104°F (40°C). A…
Intravenous (given by vein) gamma globulin is the standard treatment for Kawasaki disease and is given in high doses. The childs condition usually greatly improves within 24 hours. It decreases the risk of damage to the arteries in the heart (coronary arteries). In an NIH (National Institute of Health) study, gamma globulin decreased the number of aneurysms by 3 to 5 times, when given in the first 10 days of illness. For children who are diagnosed after the tenth day and continue to have fever, IVIG still may be helpful. Children who still have fever 2 days after IVIG may benefit from further treatments with IVIG. Careful monitoring is necessary during gamma globulin treatment. It may rarely cause an allergy. Monitoring is…
