Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood disease characterized by inflammation of the lining of blood vessels that causes spots on the skin, fever, enlarged lymph nodes and, in some children, heart and joint inflammation.
This disease is not contagious and occurs most often in children up to age 5, especially in males. Kawasaki disease is usually caused by changes in the immune system, causing the defense cells themselves to attack blood vessels and cause inflammation. In addition to the autoimmune cause, it can also be caused by viruses or genetic factors.
- Kawasaki disease is curable when quickly identified and treated.
- And treatment should be done on the advice of the pediatrician.
- Which in most cases includes the use of aspirin to relieve inflammation and injection of immunoglobulins to control the response.
- Autoimmune.
Symptoms of Kawasaki disease are progressive and can characterize three stages of the disease. However, not all children have all the symptoms. The first stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
In the second phase of the disease, skin peeling of the fingers and toes, joint pain, diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting that can last up to 2 weeks begins.
So far, Kawasaki disease is not considered a complication of COVID-19. However, based on observations made in some children who tested positive for COVID-19, particularly in the United States, the childhood form of infection with the new coronavirus may cause a syndrome with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, namely fever, red spots on the body, and swelling.
Learn more about the effects of COVID-19 on children
Diagnosis of Kawasaki disease is based on criteria set by the American Heart Association. Thus, the following criteria are evaluated:
In addition to the clinical exam, your pediatrician may order tests to help confirm the diagnosis, such as blood tests, echocardiography, electrocardiogram, or chest x-ray.
Kawasaki disease is curable and its treatment involves the use of medicines to reduce inflammation and prevent aggravation of symptoms. Treatment is usually done with the use of aspirin to reduce fever and inflammation of blood vessels, mainly the arteries of the heart, and high doses of immunoglobulins, which are proteins that are part of the immune system, for 5 days, or according to medical advice. .
At the end of the fever, the use of small doses of aspirin may continue for a few months to reduce the risk of heart damage and clotting. However, to avoid Reye’s syndrome, which is a disease caused by prolonged aspirin use, dipiidamol may be used according to the pediatrician’s recommendations.
Treatment should be done during hospitalization until there is no risk to the child’s health and there is no possibility of complications, such as heart valve problems, myocarditis, arrhythmias or pericarditis. Another possible complication of Kawasaki disease is the formation of aneurysms in the coronary arteries, which can cause arterial obstruction and consequently heart attack and sudden death. See what the symptoms are, the causes, and how the aneurysm is treated.