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Doctors across the United States are seeing an increase in Kawasaki disease, a mysterious disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. This disease is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children worldwide, but is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed.
Kawasaki disease is rare, but cases are increasing in the United States. Here’s what’s important to know about Kawasaki disease:
What could be the cause?
No one knows. Kawasaki disease, also known as KD, is one of the major mysteries in children. Some scientists believe that it is caused by environmental exposure or occurs after a bacterial or viral infection. Certain genes appear to make some children more susceptible to the disease.
Whatever the cause, there has been a lull in cases in the United States during the pandemic, suggesting that masks and social distancing may have helped protect children from infection. The number of infections is now rising, suggesting that many children are being exposed to the mysterious cause of the disease for the first time.
what to look for
Kawasaki disease is characterized by a high fever that lasts for more than five days, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, red and swollen hands and feet, a red “strawberry tongue,” red chapped lips, and other red rashes. Patients often eventually experience skin peeling on their hands and feet. One of his signs of Kawasaki disease is that his eyes are very bloodshot.
There is no test to diagnose Kawasaki disease, and doctors recommend treating a variety of illnesses with similar symptoms, including tick-borne disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, scarlet fever, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic shock syndrome, and even measles. must be excluded. This condition is also very similar to Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), which can occur after COVID-19 infection.
Some children who present to the emergency room and test positive for viral illnesses such as respiratory syncytial virus or influenza, but also meet criteria for Kawasaki disease, end up undergoing echocardiograms to detect coronary artery disease. Expansion is confirmed. Therefore, it is important not to ignore Kawasaki disease even if another respiratory disease is identified.
risk
Without treatment, the acute phase of Kawasaki disease may last several weeks and then resolve on its own. However, the disease can cause swelling of blood vessels, such as the arteries that supply blood to the heart, and damage to the heart muscle and valves, long after acute symptoms have subsided.
If an inflamed heart artery goes undetected, an aneurysm, or bulge in the artery wall, can develop, which can lead to blood clots and the risk of a heart attack.
Without treatment, about 25% of patients with Kawasaki disease will develop coronary artery aneurysms, which can lead to heart attack and death even years later.
Your child is KD. What’s next?
The good news is that as long as Kawasaki disease is detected and treated within a few days, outcomes tend to be good. Patients are admitted to the hospital and given a high-dose intravenous infusion of immunoglobulin (IVIG), a mixture of antibodies, to quickly quell the inflammatory response.
When used with high-dose aspirin, IV fluids can lower fever, reduce swelling, and prevent heart damage. After the inflammation subsides, an echocardiogram can confirm that the heart is still healthy.
If you think your child may have Kawasaki disease, please consult a Kawasaki disease specialist. Time is of the essence in this situation.
Could I have had Kawasaki disease as a child?
Many adults who had Kawasaki disease in childhood may not know that they had Kawasaki disease. Many went untreated or were misdiagnosed as having another disease accompanied by a rash. Some of these people may not realize they have heart damage until a tragedy occurs in adulthood.
If you think you may have missed Kawasaki disease, see a cardiologist who specializes in this disease as soon as possible. Doctors often order a simple test called a coronary artery calcium score to check for damage.
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