Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a condition that causes an inflammatory effect on the blood vessels throughout the body. It can result in complications if the heart vessels are involved.

It is still not known what causes Kawasaki disease, but it is thought that a virus or bacteria may be the culprit.

Kawasaki disease was only first reported in 1967 by Dr Kawasaki and occurs more frequently in the following:

• Age – children younger than 5
• Sex – boys are slightly more likely than girls to develop Kawasaki disease.
• Ethnicity – children of Asian, Pacific and Afro-Caribbean descent, but can affect children of all nationalities

Undiagnosed and untreated Kawasaki disease can cause heart attack, heart failure and coronary artery thrombosis.

Treatment normally provides quick improvement and greatly lowers the risk of heart disease or other complications.

Kawasaki disease does have a small chance (1-2%) of recurrence even if it is treated.

Incubation period

The incubation period is the length of time it takes from being infected by someone else with Kawasaki disease, to showing symptoms.

Kawasaki disease has an incubation period of: Not known

How do you get Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is thought to be related to an infection as it causes a high fever and swelling of the lymph nodes. The disease is not contagious.

It may occur in children who have a genetic predisposition to the disease.

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease

• Fever – a fever which can last more than 5 days
• Rash – may be especially bad in the groin area
• Red tongue and lips – swollen, red and cracked lips and “strawberry” tongue, which appears with shiny bright red spots after the top coating peels off
• Swollen hands and feet – together with redness
• Swollen lymph nodes – especially in the neck

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease often go away on their own within days or weeks and the child recovers.

Treatment of Kawasaki disease

• See a doctor – any child with suspected Kawasaki disease needs to see a doctor who can perform an examination to diagnose this condition. This will also help to prevent any serious complications involving the heart
• Hospitalisation – any child with this condition will need to be admitted to hospital to be treated and monitored carefully
• Intravenous immunoglobulin – high doses will be given intravenously (through a drip into a vein in hospital) to lower the risk of heart disease complications and improves coronary artery outcomes
• Aspirin – high dose of aspirin may be given to reduce risk of thrombosis

Complications

With prompt treatment, most children with Kawasaki disease make a full recovery. But sometimes complications can develop.

The complications of Kawasaki disease are related to the heart and blood vessels:

• Aneurysms – weak, bulging spots in blood vessels that can burst and cause heart attack, stroke or even death
• Arrhythmia – abnormal heart rhythm
• Blood clots – which can lead to heart attack, stroke, or even death
• Coronary arteritis – an inflammation of the coronary arteries
• Heart valve problems
• Myocarditis – an inflammation of heart muscle

Heart related complications may require the following medications or surgeries:

• anticoagulant or anti-platelet medicines – these medicines are blood thinners which stop blood from clotting. They may prevent a heart attack in very inflamed arteries
• coronary artery bypass graft – surgery that bypasses narrow or clogged arteries with a graft to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart
• coronary angioplasty – this widens blocked or narrowed coronary arteries to improve the blood flow to the heart. In some cases, a stent (short, hollow metal tube) is inserted into the blocked artery to keep it open

Vaccination

There’s currently no vaccine for Kawasaki disease.

Reducing risk of infection

There is no way to reduce the risk of Kawasaki disease infection.

Children can make a full recovery within 6 to 8 weeks if it’s diagnosed and treated promptly, but complications can develop.

See your doctor and get treatment for your child straight away, as that greatly reduces the risk of complications.

If your child gets Kawasaki disease, keep them away from school and other children

References

• About Kawasaki disease. CDC USA. Accessed 10 July 2024
• Kawasaki disease. National Library of Medicine USA. Accessed 10 July 2024
• Kawasaki disease The importance of prompt recognition and early referral. Australian Family Physician. Accessed 10 July 2024

Last reviewed and updated: 10 July 2024