Information on Kawasaki Syndrome

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile disease of childhood. It’s also known as Kawasaki syndrome or mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.  Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile disease with inflammation of little- and medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body, in particular, the coronary arteries (blood vessels around the heart). KS occurs global, with the highest incidence in Japan. About 80 percent of the people with Kawasaki disease are under age five. Children over age eight are rarely affected. The disease occurs more frequently among boys (over 60 percent) and among those of Asian ancestry.

Kawasaki disease is a children's illness characterized by fever, rash, inflammation of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips and throat.  Kawasaki syndrome represents an allergic reaction or other unusual response to certain types of infections. Other caused of Kawasaki syndrome the interaction of an immune cell, called the T cell, with certain poisons (toxins) secreted by bacteria. Kawasaki disease is often treated in the hospital, with a settle from a few days to a few weeks.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is the usual treatment for Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki syndrome is usually treated with a combination of aspirin, to manage the patient's fever and skin inflammation, and elevated doses of intravenous immune globulin to decrease the possibility of coronary artery complications. Children who require taking aspirin indefinitely should be vaccinated against chickenpox and influenza. Aspirin therapy also should not be given during the six weeks after a chickenpox vaccine. Aspirin may augment the risk of bleeding from other causes and may be linked with Reye's syndrome.

Corticosteroids have also been used. Sometimes cortisone drugs are given. Persisting joint pains are treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Many patients with heart complications may be treated with drugs that decrease blood clotting or may receive corrective surgery.  Plasma exchange very effective this condition. Plasmapheresis is a procedure whereby the patient's plasma is removed from the blood and replaced with protein-containing fluids. By taking out portions of the patient's plasma, the procedure also removes antibodies and proteins that are felt to be part of the immune reaction that is causing the inflammation of the disease.