Does your little one have a high fever that doesn't go down in a few days? How scary does it feel for a mother or father to see their child in a lot of pain, with a rash and a fever that doesn't go down even after giving them paracetamol? At times like these, we usually think it's a viral fever. But sometimes, it could be "Kawasaki disease," which we haven't heard much about but needs immediate attention. So let's be aware of this today.
What is Kawasaki Disease?
Simply put, Kawasaki disease is a condition in which the blood vessels in our body become swollen or inflamed. It is most often seen in children under the age of 5. In fact, Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of heart disease in young children.
But don't be afraid. Although this may sound scary, if this disease is diagnosed early and proper treatment is started, the majority of children recover completely without any complications. The most important thing is to be aware of the symptoms and see a doctor on time.
Why does this disease occur? What are the risk factors?
Scientists still don't know the exact cause of the disease, but they believe that several factors may contribute to it. These include:
- Genetic predisposition (Genes): Some children may have a slight predisposition to developing this disease due to their genetic makeup.
- Infections: It is suspected that this condition may be caused by a response in the body's immune system after certain viral or bacterial infections.
- Environmental factors: Things like certain chemicals in the environment around us can also have an effect.
The most important thing is that Kawasaki disease is not contagious , so if your child gets the disease, you don't need to worry about spreading it to other people in your household.
There are several other risk factors that can affect the development of this disease:
- Age: It is most common in children under 5 years of age, especially between 6 months and 2 years of age.
- Gender: Boys are slightly more likely to develop this disease than girls.
- Ethnicity: Children of Asian and Pacific Islander descent have been found to be more likely to develop this disease, so it's important for us to be especially aware of this.
What are the symptoms of Kawasaki disease?
The symptoms of this disease can appear suddenly, and they can also be seen in several stages.
| Main symptom stages | |
|---|---|
| Characteristic | Description |
| First Phase | |
| High fever | Fever is higher than 38.3 Celsius (101 Fahrenheit). Lasts more than 5 days in a row . Common fever medications do not reduce the fever. |
| Rash | It is often seen on the chest, legs, and groin area. |
| Redness of the eyes | The whites of the eyes turn red, but the mucus doesn't drain from the eyes. |
| Lip, tongue, and throat changes | The lips become dry, cracked, and dark red. The tongue may be swollen and have red bumps that look like a strawberry (also called "strawberry tongue"). The throat may also be sore. |
| Swelling of hands and feet | The palms and soles of the feet become red and swollen. |
| Swollen glands | The lymph nodes in the neck become swollen. |
| Second Phase | |
| Skin peeling | About 2-3 weeks after the onset of the disease, the skin on the fingertips and feet begins to peel off. |
| Other features | Joint pain, stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea may occur. |
In the third stage, these symptoms gradually subside. However, it may take up to 8 weeks to fully recover. If your child has a high fever that lasts for more than 4-5 days and has other symptoms like these, definitely see a doctor without wasting any time.
Kawasaki disease and COVID-19
Some children who get COVID-19 may develop a condition called ``multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C)''. Its symptoms (such as fever and body aches) are very similar to Kawasaki disease. So if you notice these symptoms, it is very important to talk to your child's doctor about it.
How does the doctor diagnose this disease?
The doctor will first examine your child carefully and ask you about your symptoms. Since there is no specific test to diagnose the disease, the doctor will look for at least 4 of the following 5 symptoms along with a fever that lasts for more than 5 days:
1. Red eyes
2. Lip and tongue changes (dry, cracked, red lips and strawberry tongue)
3. Body shaming
4. Swelling of the neck
5. Swelling and redness of the hands and feet
In addition, several tests may be performed to rule out other medical conditions and to see if the heart has been affected by this disease.
- Heart tests: An ``Electrocardiogram - EKG``, which looks at the electrical activity of the heart, and an ``Echocardiogram``, which looks at the structure and function of the heart. This is a very important test.
- Blood tests: Check for inflammation and other infections in the body.
- Other tests: A chest X-ray or, if necessary, a coronary angiogram to look at the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries) may also be done.
How is it treated?
The fever, swelling, and pain caused by this disease can be very uncomfortable for the child. Also, because of the effects it can have on the heart, treatment for this disease is often done in a hospital setting.
There are two main treatment methods:
1. Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG): This is a treatment given through a vein (IV). It contains antibodies, a type of protein that helps the body fight infection. This treatment, given early in the disease, can reduce swelling in the blood vessels and prevent much of the damage that can occur to the heart.
2. Aspirin: The doctor recommends aspirin to reduce fever and pain and to prevent blood clots.
A very important warning: Never give aspirin to young children without the advice of a doctor. Aspirin can be very dangerous in cases of other viral fevers, such as dengue. This is a treatment for Kawasaki disease that should only be given on the advice of a specialist.
After treatment, if your child develops a condition such as a coronary artery aneurysm, you may be asked to take low-dose aspirin for a few weeks or longer. Also, even after leaving the hospital, you should definitely take your child for follow-up visits as directed by the doctor.
Can this disease cause complications?
It's understandable that anyone would be scared to hear this, as it's something related to the heart. But in reality, if treated quickly, the majority of children recover completely without any long-term problems.
However, in rare cases, some complications may occur, especially if treatment is delayed.
- Abnormalities in heart rhythm (dysrhythmia)
- Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
- Damage to the heart valves (mitral regurgitation)
- Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
These can cause the walls of the blood vessels in the heart to weaken and bulge like balloons (aneurysms). This increases the risk of future blood vessel blockages, internal bleeding, and heart attacks.
But remember, these are very rare complications. With proper treatment, this risk can be reduced by more than 95%. That's why we say to see a doctor on time.
Take-Home Message
- Kawasaki disease is a treatable, but treatable disease that affects young children and requires immediate medical attention.
- Be on the lookout for symptoms like red eyes, rashes, red lips and tongue, and swelling of the hands and feet, along with a high fever that lasts for more than 5 days.
- If you see these symptoms, don't panic or panic, and take your child to a doctor as soon as possible. Prompt treatment can prevent damage to the heart.
- Never give aspirin to children without medical advice.
- With proper treatment and follow-up, your child can make a full recovery and live a healthy life without any problems.
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