Kawasaki disease is a condition that mainly affects children under the age of 5. It's also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. A child with Kawasaki disease has a high temperature that lasts for 5 days or longer, and possibly 1 or more of the following symptoms: After a few weeks, and with the correct treatment, the symptoms become less severe, but it can take longer than this in some children. Read more about the symptoms of Kawasaki disease. See a GP urgently, or call 111 if you can't speak to a GP, if your child has a persistent high temperature and 1 or more symptoms of Kawasaki disease. If your baby is less than 1 year old, it's even more important to see a GP or call 111 straight away. The symptoms of Kawasaki disease can be similar to those of other conditions that cause a fever in children. Kawasaki disease can't be prevented. Children can make a full recovery within 6 to 8 weeks if it's diagnosed and treated promptly, but complications can develop. It's important to see a GP and start treatment as soon as possible. Read more about diagnosing Kawasaki disease. It's not clear exactly what causes Kawasaki disease. It may be due to a combination of factors. Read more about the possible causes of Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease is always treated in hospital. It's best if treatment begins as soon as possible. The sooner treatment starts, the quicker the recovery time and there's less risk of complications developing. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a solution of antibodies, and aspirin are the 2 main medicines used to treat Kawasaki disease. Read more about treating Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease causes the blood vessels to become inflamed and swollen, which can lead to complications in the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart (coronary arteries). Without treatment, around 1 in 4 children with Kawasaki disease get heart complications. This can be fatal in about 2 to 3% of cases. Because of this, Kawasaki disease is one of the main causes of acquired heart disease in children under 5 in the UK. Acquired heart disease develops after birth. Read more about the complications of Kawasaki disease. Around 8 in every 100,000 children develop Kawasaki disease in the UK each year. Research carried out in England from 1998 to 2003 found 72% of children with Kawasaki disease were under the age of 5. The condition was also shown to be 1.5 times more common in boys than girls. The Kawasaki Support Group and Societi, The UK Foundation for Kawasaki Disease can provide you with additional information and advice about your child's condition.
Page last reviewed: 26 October 2021
Kawasaki (Kah-wah-SOCK-ee) Disease, although rare, is the most common cause of acquired (not born with) heart disease in the United States and Japan. More than 80% of the children who get it are younger than 5 years of age. It is more common in boys and in Asians and Asian-Americans. Kawasaki Disease begins suddenly. The disease can cause blood vessels to become inflamed or swollen throughout the body. If untreated, the swelling can lead to damage of the blood vessel walls, especially those that go to the heart (coronary arteries). A section of a blood vessel wall can balloon out and become weak. This is called an aneurysm. Over time, the inflammation in the vessel goes away but the aneurysm stays. Aneurysms can cause serious problems later, most notably blood clots. When treatment begins within 10 days of the start of the disease, there is little risk of blood vessel and heart problems. It is not known what causes the disease. The immune system may be reacting to an unknown virus or there might be a genetic link in families. There is no way to prevent Kawasaki Disease. It is not contagious. It cannot be spread from one person to another. SymptomsThe first sign of Kawasaki Disease is a high fever (over 101°F, and often as high as 104°F) that lasts more than 4 days. Over the next several days (not all at once), these other key signs may occur:
Most children with Kawasaki Disease are also very irritable and fussy. However, not all children have all of these signs. Children may have a milder form, called “incomplete” (atypical) Kawasaki Disease. Both forms can cause damage to blood vessels if not treated right away. Other less common symptoms include: DiagnosisThere is no single test to know if a child has Kawasaki Disease. The diagnosis is considered when the child has:
If Kawasaki Disease is suspected, the child will be hospitalized right away. In the hospital, the doctor may order tests to check the health of his or her heart.
TreatmentMost children fully recover without any damage to the blood vessels if treatment is started within 10 days. In the hospital, the child will be given:
After Your Child Goes HomeIt is common that a child will feel irritable and tired for many weeks before getting back to normal. Recovery often takes 6 to 8 weeks or more. The doctor will tell you:
When to Call the DoctorCall your child's doctor if you notice:
Follow-up AppointmentsYour child will need to come to the Kawasaki Disease Clinic regularly for the first few months. Usually, an ECG is ordered at 2 weeks and again at 6 to 8 weeks after treatment is started. The doctor will examine your child to make sure there are no heart problems. If your child has an aneurysm caused by Kawasaki Disease, the visits to the doctor may be more often. Even with an aneurysm, the long term outlook for your child is good. As he gets older, it will be important that he eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and not smoke. Kawasaki Disease (PDF) HH-I-93 10/87, Revised 4/17 Copyright 1987 Nationwide Children’s Hospital |