Guide Note

Kawasaki disease is a poorly understood acquired heart disease that mostly affects children under five years of age.¹ It rarely occurs in children over the age of eight.²

Kawasaki disease can involve the skin, mouth and lymph nodes. ³ While doctors still do not know the cause, research suggests that it is neither contagious nor hereditary.

Fast Facts

Alternate name: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome
First described: 1967²
First described by: Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki¹
Prevalence: 19 in 100,000 kids³
80% affected under 5 years old⁴
Unknown cause
More common in boys than girls⁴
Occurs more frequently in those of Asian ancestry³

United States Statistics

Leading cause of childhood acquired heart disease²
4,000 cases diagnosed per year⁴
Lethal for 1% of diagnosed⁴

Symptoms

Fever
Rash
Swelling of hands/feet
Inflammation of lips, mouth and throat

Heart Complications

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have Kawasaki disease, please consult your doctor.

Categories

Health | Diseases | Childhood Diseases | Heart Disease

View Note History

Kawasaki Disease

The Mahalo Top 7

KidsHealth: Kawasaki Disease
Wikipedia: Kawasaki Disease
American Heart Association (AHA): Kawasaki Disease
Official Site: Kawasaki Disease Foundation (KDF)
American Family Physician: Kawasaki Disease (June 1999)
MayoClinic.com: Kawasaki Disease
Circulation: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Long-Term Management of Kawasaki Disease (2004)

Kawasaki Disease News

Google News: Kawasaki Disease
The New York Times: My Daughters Are Fine, but I’ll Never Be the Same (April 8, 2008)
HealthDay: Anti-Clotting Drug Helps Infants With Heart Ills (January 29, 2008)
ScienceDaily: New Genetic Variation That Affects A Child's Risk Of Getting Kawasaki... (December 19, 2007)
- "The genetic variation influences immune activation and the response to standard treatment, as well as the risk of developing coronary artery aneurysms -- a swelling of the artery that can result in blood clots and heart attack -- as a complication of KD."
Forbes: Steroid Drugs Won't Help Most Kids with Kawasaki Disease (February 14, 2007)

Kawasaki Disease Facts

MedlinePlus: Medical Encyclopedia: Kawasaki Disease
MedicineNet.com: Kawasaki Disease
American Academy of Family Physicians: Kawasaki Disease
Royal Children's Hospital: Kawasaki Disease
DermNet NZ: Kawasaki Disease (Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome)
Vasculitis Foundation: Kawasaki Disease
AHA: Kawasaki Disease
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Kawasaki’s Disease
American Academy of Pediatrics: Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki Disease Causes, Symptoms and Complications

MayoClinic.com: Kawasaki Disease: Signs and Symptoms | Causes | Complications
WebMD: Kawasaki Disease - Symptoms

Kawasaki Disease Treatment Options

MayoClinic.com: Kawasaki Disease: Treatment
WebMD: Kawasaki Disease - Treatment Overview

Kawasaki Disease Scientific and Medical Journal Articles

Pediatrics Search: Kawasaki Disease
PubMed Central Search: Kawasaki Disease
New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM): Randomized Trial of Pulsed Corticosteroid... (February 15, 2007)
NEJM: Giant Coronary-Artery Aneurysm in Kawasaki's Disease (July 12, 2001)
Circulation: Diagnostic Guidelines for Kawasaki Disease (2001)
Pediatrics: Kawasaki Disease: A Brief History (August 2000)
NEJM: Kawasaki's Disease (November 23, 1995)
Archives of Disease in Childhood: Sudden death in incomplete Kawasaki's disease (1988)
Archives of Dermatology: Kawasaki's disease appearing as erythema multiforme (January 1979)

Kawasaki Disease Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Kawasaki Disease Clinical Trials
CenterWatch: Kawasaki Disease Clinical Trials

Kawasaki Disease Support Groups

KDF Bridges
Contact a Family: KAWASAKI DISEASE

Kawasaki Disease Stories, Discussion and Blogs

Related Searches

Vasculitis | Fever | Swollen Lymph Nodes | Pinkeye | Sore Throat | Myocarditis | Arrhythmia | Pericarditis | Aneurysms | Inflammation | Aspirin | Heart Attack | Blood Clots