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Because of this risk, Kawasaki is one of the main causes of acquired heart disease in children under five.
If Kawasaki disease is caught early, the risk of complications is low. Without treatment, however, one in four children will develop heart complications. This can be fatal in 2-3% of cases.
In cases where IVIG does not improve a child’s condition, they may be given corticosteroids. This medicine contains powerful hormones that have a number of effects on the body.
As mentioned, some children make a full recovery from Kawasaki in six weeks, but for others it can take longer. If there are complications, follow-up treatment may be needed.
Sources: (NHS) (Mayo Clinic) (CDC)
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Usually you will be advised to make sure they are as comfortable as possible and ensure they are drinking plenty of fluids.
Your child will be given a follow-up appointment, and doctors will continue to monitor their heart. Once an echocardiogram confirms there are no heart abnormalities, the prescription of aspirin will usually stop.
That said, you should never give your child aspirin, unless it is recommended by a healthcare professional. It can cause serious side effects, such as Reye’s syndrome.
After your child is given IVIG, their symptoms should improve within 36 hours. If their temperature does not come down after this time, they may be given a second dose.
This condition is always treated in hospitals, and there are two main treatments: aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin.
The intravenous immunoglobulin (also referred to as IVIG) is a solution of antibodies that serves to reduce fever and lower the risk of heart problems.
Children under 16 years of age are not usually prescribed aspirin, but this is one case where it may be recommended.
As well as ensuring a speedy recovery, early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent any complications of Kawasaki disease.
The aspirin serves to bring down your child’s temperature and reduce their pain and discomfort. Aspirin can also act as an anti-inflammatory (at a high dose) and an antiplatelet (at a low dose).
Kawasaki disease is slightly more common in children from Northeast Asia, which is another reason scientists believe that it may be partly genetically driven.
This is all the more important if your child is younger than one year old, since the condition can progress more quickly in younger children.
Kawasaki disease cannot be prevented, but, with the proper treatment, children can make a full recovery within six to eight weeks.
It is also thought that children who develop Kawasaki disease may be genetically predisposed to it, i.e. their genes may make them more likely to get the condition.
If your child has a persistent high temperature and one or more symptoms of Kawasaki disease, it is important that you seek medical attention right away.
Rather than there being a single gene responsible, scientists suspect that Kawasaki disease may emerge as a result of many genes that slightly increase the chance of it developing.
Once your child is discharged from the hospital, you will be given instructions for how to care for them at home.
It is not known exactly what causes Kawasaki disease, but it is believed to be caused by a combination of factors.
However, scientists have not yet identified a bacterial or viral cause for Kawasaki disease.
The symptoms of Kawasaki disease are similar to those of an infection, so it makes sense that a bacteria or virus would be responsible.
A child with this condition has a high temperature that lasts for five days or longer, as well as one or more other symptoms.
Furthermore, Kawasaki disease is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another. This suggests it is not caused by a virus alone.
With the right treatment, Kawasaki symptoms can become less severe over a few weeks. However, for some children it takes longer than this.
Possible other symptoms include a rash, swollen glands in the neck, dry, red, and cracked lips, strawberry tongue (i.e. a bumpy and swollen tongue), redness inside the mouth and throat, and redness of the eyes, hands, and feet.
Kawasaki disease, otherwise known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a potentially serious condition that predominantly affects children under the age of five.
Unless you know someone who has had Kawasaki disease, you probably aren't too familiar with it. An acute febrile illness that causes a high fever and often a rash, Kawasaki disease affects about nine to 20 per 100,000 children in the US alone under the age of five. With symptoms that are easily confused with other conditions, Kawasaki disease can be difficult to spot. Ultimately, this can be very dangerous; if left untreated, Kawasaki disease can cause serious complications.
Concerned? Check out this gallery to learn all about Kawasaki disease.
Kawasaki disease: how worried should parents be?
Learn all about this elusive condition
HEALTH Pediatrics
Unless you know someone who has had Kawasaki disease, you probably aren't too familiar with it. An acute febrile illness that causes a high fever and often a rash, Kawasaki disease affects about nine to 20 per 100,000 children in the US alone under the age of five. With symptoms that are easily confused with other conditions, Kawasaki disease can be difficult to spot. Ultimately, this can be very dangerous; if left untreated, Kawasaki disease can cause serious complications.
Concerned? Check out this gallery to learn all about Kawasaki disease.