Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a serious, noncontagious illness that causes inflammation in the walls of blood vessels in the body. If this inflammation occurs in the arteries of the heart, it can lead to heart disease.

KD primarily affects young children and infants. It is more common in boys than in girls. The condition is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Although about 80 percent of patients are under 5 years of age, KD can affect older children, teenagers and adults.

The cause of KD is unknown. Some researchers believe it may be caused by a virus or bacterium. It is not contagious (passed from person to person) and does not appear to be hereditary (passed from parent to child).

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease may include:

A high fever that lasts for at least five days and does not respond to antibiotics
Rash, often worse in the groin area
Red, bloodshot eyes without drainage or crusting
Bright red, swollen and cracked lips
A "strawberry” tongue, which appears with shiny bright red spots
Swollen hands and feet
Redness of the palms and soles of the feet
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Irritability or listlessness

If your child has a persistent fever and any of these symptoms, call the doctor immediately.

Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease

There is no specific test for KD, so it can be hard to diagnose. Your child's doctor will make a diagnosis based on your child’s symptoms, a physical examination, lab tests and by ruling out other conditions. An echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to make images of the heart, may be performed to look for possible heart problems. If necessary, the doctor will do follow-up tests to check the health of the heart.

Treatments

Treatment for KD should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis. While most children who get early treatment recover without long-term effects, others still develop heart problems despite therapy.

Treatment for KD may include:

Immune globulin. This medicine is given intravenously (through the veins) to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels.
High-dose aspirin. This medicine helps reduce pain and fever and lower the risk of blood clots.

Though uncommon, some children with KD may have treatment resistance disease or recurrent disease in the weeks following treatment. If the disease causes heart problems, your child may need more treatment and follow-up tests.

Key Points to Remember

KD causes inflammation in the walls of blood vessels in the body.
In some children, inflammation occurs in the arteries of the heart, which can lead to heart disease.
KD is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children.
With early treatment, most children recover from KD without long-term effects.
Though uncommon, some children with KD may have treatment resistance disease or recurrent disease in the weeks following treatment.

Support Services & Resources

For more information about Kawasaki disease, please visit the resources below.

Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.

Learn More About Riley Support Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide extensive information about Kawasaki disease.