What is the most common age for developing Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammation that affects the blood vessels, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome [1]. Although it may affect older children and adults in some cases, the most common age for developing it is in children under five years old [1]. It is also more common among males than females [1].

What is Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is a type of vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels), where the immune system mistakenly attacks the blood vessels, leading to inflammation, narrowing, or blockage [1]. The exact cause of this remains not fully understood, but it is believed that genetic and environmental factors, such as infections, may play a role [1]. It is important to note that Kawasaki disease is not contagious, meaning it cannot be transmitted from one child to another [1].

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually appear as a high fever that lasts for at least five days [1]. Other symptoms may include:

• A skin rash that often appears on the back, chest, and groin area [1].
• Swelling of the hands and feet [1].
• Redness of the lips, lining of the mouth, tongue, palms, and soles of the feet [1].
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) [1].
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck [1].

If your child's fever lasts for 4 days, especially if it is accompanied by any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is essential to contact your child's healthcare provider immediately [1].

Complications of Kawasaki disease

In some cases, Kawasaki disease can affect the walls of the coronary arteries, which are the arteries that supply the heart with blood and oxygen [1]. This can lead to:

• Aneurysms (bulging and thinning of artery walls), which increases the risk of blood clots forming in the arteries [1]. If these clots are not treated, they may lead to a heart attack or internal bleeding [1].
• Inflammation of the heart [1].
• Heart valve problems [1].

Kawasaki disease can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, nervous system, and digestive system [1]. For more information about cardiac risks, you can visit Kawasaki Disease: Long Fever and Coronary Artery Risk (Arabic).

Diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease

There is no specific test to diagnose Kawasaki disease [1]. The doctor makes the diagnosis based on a physical examination of the symptoms and signs, and may order blood and urine tests to rule out other diseases and check for signs of inflammation [1]. They may also order tests to assess heart health, such as an echocardiogram (echo) and an electrocardiogram (EKG) [1] [2].

Kawasaki disease is usually treated in the hospital with an intravenous dose of immunoglobulin (IVIG) [1]. Treatment may also include aspirin, but you should not give aspirin to your child unless recommended by a healthcare provider, as it can cause Reye's syndrome, a rare and serious condition that affects the brain and liver in children [1]. In most cases, treatment is effective, but if not, the doctor may prescribe other medications to control the inflammation [1]. If the disease has affected your child's heart, they may need additional medications, surgery, or other medical procedures [1].

Medical references

• Kawasaki Disease
• Heart Tests Heart Tests