Kawasaki disease is also called as Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome or Kawasaki syndrome. In January 1961, This disease was first reported by Tomisaku Kawasaki in a 3-year-old child with a rash and fever at the red cross hospital, Tokyo. Kawasaki disease is an illness that makes the blood vessels swell in the body and become inflamed. It primarily affects children under 5 age. The inflammation affects the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. It causes high fever and swelling of the lymph nodes, this disease is related to an infection. The exact cause of this disease is unknown. According to research, around 70 – 80% of patients are under the age of five years. Other 20 – 30% may be older children or teenagers. It may occur in children who have a genetic predisposition to the disease. It does not usually affect children under 6 months, because they are protected by antibiotics from their mother. It is not contagious. The disease occurs more often among boys than girls. During winter and spring months this disease is commonly seen.

 

An intense inflammatory illness has affecting children around the globe and doctors and physicians suspect it may be linked to novel COVID-19. In UK and US children have been affected by rare inflammatory diseases linked to Coronavirus. Three children have died because of this deadly disease who also tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 100 children got affected in New York.

 

Causes:

The exact cause of this disease is not known. It can damage a child’s coronary arteries, which carry blood to their heart. Children may be more likely to develop it if they inherit certain genes from their parents. This disease might be linked to genes, viruses, and bacteria. It cannot be caused by one person to another it is not contagious.

 

 

Who got affected more?

* Children under age 5 will have more chance to be affected.

* Boys are affected more than girls.

* This syndrome has been observed in the European countries and the USA.

* This disease is more common in children from Nortiest Asia especially Korea and Japan.

 

Symptoms:

* High fever for more than 7 days above 100F.

* Red Eyes.

* Swelling in hands.

* Abdominal pain.

* Vomiting.

* Swollen glands in the neck.

* Severe Headache.

* Urine that contains pus.

* Feeling drowsing.

* Irritated throats, lips, mouth.

* Jaundice.

* peeling skin on body and hands.

* Stomach pain.

* Tongue color changes to bright Red.

 

Treatments:

Treatment for Kawasaki disease should be started as soon as one has symptoms. It may take much time to get cured if we admit the patient after so many days of having symptoms. The treatment for Kawasaki disease is high dose gamma globulin and is given through an Aspirin and IVIG. The purpose of treatment is to prevent the probability that the Kawasaki disease will leave behind every complication in the heart. The complication that can leave is the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart the coronary arteries become enlarged that complication is very important to be aware of Kawasaki. With the treatment affected children may start to improve soon after first gamma globulin treatment. The fever and all other symptoms will go away with or without any kind of treatment just like other illnesses. About 20 – 30% of patients affected by Kawasaki disease will have those complications in their hearts. If coronary artery aneurysm ruptures treatment may include anticoagulant drugs, bypass surgery, or stent placement.

 

Two main two treatments for Kawasaki disease are

1. Intravenous Immunoglobulin.

2. Aspirin.

 

Intravenous Immunoglobulin:

Intravenous Immunoglobulin is called IVIG it is an infusion through child’s IV. These medicines help reduce the swelling and inflammation in the blood vessels. It can decrease the disease, but did not eliminate, the risk of developing coronary aneurysms. Once the patient is given IVIG, their symptoms should get improved within 36 hours. If their fever doesn’t improve after 36 hours, they may be given a second dose of IVIG. Research has shown that IVIG can reduce fever and the risk of heart problems.

 

Aspirin:

Aspirin is also known as Acetylsalicylic acid(ASA). Aspirin is used to reduce fever and relieve pain from conditions such as muscle aches, toothaches, common cold, and headaches. Aspirin is also used for the long-term to help prevent the cause of heart attacks, and blood clots in people at high risk. A child may be prescribed this medicine if they have Kawasaki disease.

* It can reduce the pain and discomfort.

* It will reduce high fever.

* It reduces swelling in the body.

* It will lower the risk of heart issues from children when they get it early on in treatment.

* It prevents blood clots.

The good news is that Kawasaki disease is treatable and most children recovered from this disease without serious Problems.