Kawasaki disease overview

Overview

Kawasaki disease, also known as lymph node syndrome, mucocutaneous node disease, infantile polyarteritis and Kawasaki syndrome, is a poorly understood self-limited vasculitis that affects many organs, including the skin and mucous membranes, lymph nodes, blood vessel walls, and the heart. It does not seem to be contagious. It was first described in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki in Japan.. Kawasaki disease is predominantly a disease of young children, with 80% of patients younger than 5 years of age. Additional risk factors in the United States include Asian race and male sex. Kawasaki disease can cause vasculitic changes (inflammation of blood vessels) in the coronary arteries and subsequent coronary artery aneurysms. Common symptoms of kawasaki disease include high grade fever, red eyes, bright red and cracked lips, red mucous membranes in the mouth, strawberry tongue, white coating on the tongue or prominent red bumps (papillae) on the back of the tongue, red palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, swollen hands and feet, and rash. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin are indicated in kawasaki disease.