{"id":1983,"date":"2023-01-02T09:14:34","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T09:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/?p=1983"},"modified":"2023-01-05T10:04:16","modified_gmt":"2023-01-05T10:04:16","slug":"kawasaki-disease-causes-symptoms-and-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/kawasaki-disease-causes-symptoms-and-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Kawasaki disease: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1289.6px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What is Kawasaki disease? Experts usually refer to this condition as a rare but crucial cause of fever in babies, toddlers, and young children from six months to five years old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The fever disease belongs to a specific family of medical conditions which leads to the inflammation of the blood vessels or vasculitis. Unfortunately, Kawasaki disease in children may involve such crucial blood vessels as those to the heart. More specifically, it affects the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that provide the heart with blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The disease may weaken the blood vessels and stretch them. These issues can lead to coronary artery aneurysms. Fortunately, these things may be tested with the help of ultrasound techniques such as an echocardiogram, which enables experts to view the heart and its surrounding arteries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, the team at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Worldwide Pediatrics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> will aim to shed more light on the disease, along with effective Kawasaki disease treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Causes and Kawasaki Disease Symptoms<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Unfortunately, the exact causes behind the disease are unclear to medical experts, but it&#8217;s clear that more cases tend to develop during late winter and early spring. On the other hand, it has been established that the disease can&#8217;t spread through person-to-person contact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some experts point out that ethnicity and sex may also play a role in the development of the disease. More specifically, boys are slightly more likely to develop Kawasaki disease than girls. Also, medical literature and research suggest that children of Pacific Island and Asian descent (Korean and Japanese) may be at a higher risk of developing the fever.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the topic of Kawasaki disease symptoms, the telltale signs of the illness usually include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fever that lasts longer than five days<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The child easily becomes irritable<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Red eyes without any visible discharge<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The lips, throat, and tongue are red and prone to cracking<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The child&#8217;s feet and head may become red or swollen<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Peeling skin around the nails<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rashes (mainly on the trunk&#8217;s area)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Swollen neck lymph nodes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Apart from this, the following symptoms may also occur:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vomiting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Diarrhea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Abdominal pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Joint pain<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1985 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms.jpg\" alt=\"Sick Child With High Fever Laying in Bed and Mother Holding Thermometer. Hand on Forehead.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Causes-and-Kawasaki-Disease-Symptoms.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing Kawasaki Disease<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For the most part, disease diagnosis will consist of symptom assessment, but other tests may also be ordered, like the echocardiogram mentioned above and blood tests. When diagnosing Kawasaki disease, it&#8217;s crucial to rule out any other causes of fever so that healthcare experts can forge an adequate treatment plan<\/span><b>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><b>Kawasaki Disease Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Now that we know what Kawasaki disease is, it&#8217;s time to learn more about how this rare illness is treated and what approaches will help with managing the disease in children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are instances when children are given human blood proteins or immunoglobins (also known as IVIG) through the vein to alleviate the symptoms and cure the illness. It&#8217;s crucial to know that around ten percent of children may not respond well to the first dose of these immunoglobins, requiring a second dose with the necessary accompanying medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As far as medication is concerned, experts may often recommend aspirin. Furthermore, fluids will probably be administered intravenously to keep the child hydrated. Also, they will receive medication for any swelling and pain, along with the regular application of cold compresses to alleviate symptoms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Complications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kawasaki disease is cited as the primary cause of acquired heart disease in kids from developed countries. Fortunately, only a few young patients will experience any lasting damage with adequate Kawasaki disease treatments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, it&#8217;s imperative to talk about the complications that improper or late treatment may include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heart valve problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Heart muscle inflammation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It&#8217;s vital to remember that both of these complications will damage the heart, and coronary artery inflammation can lead to an aneurysm or the bulging and weakening of the artery wall.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">An aneurysm increases the chances of developing blood clots that may result in internal bleeding or heart attacks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Kawasaki disease may be fatal in a relatively small number of children with coronary artery health issues. This is why it&#8217;s imperative that any telltale sign must get assessed by a medical professional.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Is Hospitalization Necessary for Children With Kawasaki Disease?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As reasons vary, Kawasaki Disease in children won&#8217;t ultimately mean hospital admission. Still, in most cases, the children who are being evaluated for the condition will undoubtedly stay at least some time in the hospital.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On that note, children will be ready for discharge right after regularly drinking fluids, tolerating the medicines they receive orally, and no longer having inflammation and fever symptoms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Following Up After Discharge<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chances are that once your child is home from the hospital, you will still need to schedule a few follow-ups with your primary healthcare provider, a cardiologist, and an infectious disease specialist. All three of these experts will closely monitor your child&#8217;s condition with repeated lab work until they are sure that the child requires no further therapy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, the doctors will also order follow-up echocardiograms to monitor improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Outlook<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As said above, Kawasaki disease is the most prevalent cause of acquired heart problems in children in Japan and the United States. Luckily, the available treatment methods are usually sufficient enough to prevent heart disease from developing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, there are a few essential considerations parents need to remember to ensure their children&#8217;s health.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First, they should ensure that all vaccinations are up-to-date, especially for influenza and varicella, in cases when the child is on aspirin therapy. Why? Because there&#8217;s a small risk of developing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/reyes-syndrome\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20377255\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reye&#8217;s Syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> when a child takes aspirin while dealing with a viral illness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, parents shouldn&#8217;t forget that their children shouldn&#8217;t receive live virus vaccines for at least 11 months after IVIG. This is because the immunoglobins may interfere with the body&#8217;s capacity to develop the necessary antibodies to viruses such as measles-mumps-rubella, live nasal virus, influenza, and varicella.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Also, those children may be restricted from certain activities if doctors have previously found abnormalities on their echocardiograms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What&#8217;s more, when the child suffers from recurrent fever along with the return of previous symptoms, parents are advised to call the doctor as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1986 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook.jpg\" alt=\"Portrait of Cute Curly Boy Sitting on Mothers Lap During Medical Checkup, Unrecognizable Doctor Listening to Child\u2019s Heartbeat With Stethoscope\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2023\/01\/Outlook.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><b>Don&#8217;t Hesitate to Reach Out for Help<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While Kawasaki disease is a serious condition, it can be treated successfully when children are in the hands of experienced and knowledgeable medical experts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Still, it&#8217;s entirely normal for parents to feel unsettled after reading about this illness. As such, we are here for any concerns and needs regarding<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/pediatrician-plantation-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> general pediatric care in Plantation and Doral, Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, to reassure parents and help their children with any medical issue they may face.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[409],"tags":[410,413,412,414,411],"class_list":["post-1983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kawasaki-disease","tag-kawasaki-disease","tag-kawasaki-disease-in-children","tag-kawasaki-disease-symptoms","tag-kawasaki-disease-treatments","tag-what-is-kawasaki-disease"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}