Posted on June 23, 2009 in latest news
Kawasaki disease or Kawasaki syndrome is an autoimmune disease which affects children. The disease is named after Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki, a Japanese doctor who was the first one to observe it.
Kawasaki disease has the highest incidence in Japan, where 175 in 100,000 children get affected by it. Incidence is increasing in the United States where 19 in 100,000 get affected by it. About 4000 children are diagnosed with Kawasaki disease annually.80% of the children affected by Kawasaki disease are under 5 years of age. Boys are more likely to get affected by it than girls.
There is no known prevention for Kawasaki disease.
Causes of Kawasaki disease
The actual cause of Kawasaki disease is not yet known. It is presumed that, like other autoimmune diseases, a mixture of genetic and environmental factors causes it.
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease
The symptoms of Kawasaki disease include
- High fever, which does not react to normal fever medication.
- Red eyes
- Rash on the body
- Red, dry lips and red tongue with bumps on it
- Joint pain
- Peeling of skin on palms and soles
- Irritability
- Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck
Treatment of Kawasaki disease must ideally start within 10 days of onset. This will greatly reduce chances of any permanent damage and almost eliminate chances of death.
Delay in treatment will lead to serious complications which affect the working of the heart.
Treatment of Kawasaki disease
There is no particular test to identify Kawasaki disease. Doctors usually diagnose Kawasaki disease by observing the symptoms and eliminating the possibilities of other diseases.
The treatment usually involves medication to prevent any damage to the heart. Intravenous immunoglobin is administered to control fever. Aspirin is used to prevent blood clots. Other medications are given based on symptoms observed.
Symptoms usually start disappearing within two days after beginning the treatment. Kawasaki disease can be completely cured, with minimal chances of reoccurrence.
Some other facts about Kawasaki disease
- In January 2009, actor John Travolta’s son allegedly died of Kawasaki disease complications while holidaying in the Bahamas.
- The mortality rate in Kawasaki disease patients is less than 1 percent.
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