Kawasaki disease is an uncommon condition that was first observed in Japan in the 1960s. It's also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
Dr Orlena Kerek last medically reviewed this article in March 2009
Kawasaki disease
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What is Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease causes a prolonged fever that's associated with damage to the heart and blood vessels. The cause is unknown but it's thought that a virus or bacterial infection may be responsible.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Kawasaki disease appear in phases. The first symptom is a fever that lasts at least five days. In the early stages it's difficult to distinguish the illness from a heavy cold.
Within a couple of days of the fever arising, conjunctivitis of both eyes and painful swollen neck glands appear.
After a few more days, a blotchy pink rash may appear on the trunk and genital area, the lips may become dry, red, cracked and swollen, the tongue becomes red and swollen like a strawberry, and the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet become swollen and purple-red in colour.
Children with Kawasaki disease tend to be very miserable (although that isn’t actually one of the features of the disease).
During the recovery period the skin of the fingers and toes peels. Some children experience abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting.
Complications of Kawasaki disease include:
- Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis)
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Aneurysms in arteries that increase the risk of blood clots and heart attacks
Causes and risk factors
Kawasaki disease affects fewer than one in every 25,000 children in the UK. It's most common in children under five years old and it's rare for those over eight to be affected.
Asian and Afro-Caribbean people are more likely to develop Kawasaki disease, and boys are affected slightly more often than girls. About one in five children affected will suffer heart damage as a result of the disease but this may get better over time.
Treatment and recovery
It's not currently possible to prevent Kawasaki disease, which is fatal for about one in 50 children affected in the UK.
Prompt treatment reduces the risk of potentially life-threatening heart-related complications. Treatment is usually with intravenous gammaglobulin (purified antibodies). High-dose aspirin is also given to reduce the risk of coronary artery aneurysms.
Advice and support
- Kawasaki Support Group
- Tel: 02476 612178
- Website: www.kssg.org.uk
- Email: helpline@kssg.org.uk
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