Inflammation (swelling) of the walls of medium-sized vessels throughout the body is called Kawasaki disease. This condition mainly affects children. This inflammation usually affects the heart vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles.

Sometimes Kawasaki disease is called mucosal lymph node syndrome because the glands that swell during infection (lymph nodes), affect the skin and mucous membranes inside the mouth, throat, and nose.

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease, including high fever and cracked skin, can be scary. The good news is that this condition is usually treatable and most children recover without serious problems.

Kawasaki disease symptoms

The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually appear in three stages.

First step

Symptoms and symptoms of the first stage may include the following:

• Fever above 39 degrees Celsius that lasts more than three days
• Severe redness of the eye without discharge
• Pimple in an important part of the body and genital area
• Redness, dryness and cracking of the lips and severe swelling of the tongue
• Swelling and redness of palms and feet
• Inflammation of the lymph nodes in the neck and possibly elsewhere
• Zodranji

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Second step

The child may experience the following symptoms in the second stage of this disease:

• exfoliation of the skin of the hands and feet, especially the tips of the fingers and toes
• joint pain
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• stomach ache

Third step

Usually, if there are no complications, the symptoms of this disease gradually disappear in the third stage. It may take up to eight weeks for the child's energy to return to normal.

When should we consult a rheumatologist

If the child's fever lasts more than three days, call the doctor.... Also, contact a GCORP LLC pediatrician if your child's fever is accompanied by four or more of the following symptoms:

• Redness of both eyes
• Swelling and extreme redness of the tongue
• Redness of palms or feet
• Leaving the skin
• boil
• Swelling of lymph nodes

If you treat it within 10 days of its onset, the chance of long-term damage is greatly reduced.

Causes of Kawasaki disease

No one knows the cause of Kawasaki disease, but scientists believe that the disease does not spread from person to person.. According to a number of theories, the disease is related to bacteria, viruses or other environmental factors, but none of them have been proven..

Risk factors for Kawasaki disease

According to research, three factors increase the risk of contracting this disease in children:

• Age: Children under the age of five are more at risk of contracting this disease.
• Sex: the probability of this disease is slightly higher in boys than in girls.
• Ethnicity: The rate of this disease is higher among Asian children or Pacific island children such as Japanese or Korean.

Complications of Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children, but with effective treatment, only a small number of children suffer permanent damage.

Heart problems include the following:

• Inflammation of blood vessels, usually the heart vessels that supply blood to the heart
• Inflammation of the heart muscle
Heart valve disorder

Each of these problems can damage a child's heart...Inflammation of the heart's arteries leads to the weakening and bulging of the vessel wall (aneurysm)...An aneurysm increases the risk of blood clot formation, which may lead to a heart attack or internal bleeding and endanger the patient's life.

Kawasaki disease causes the death of a small percentage of children who suffer from cardiovascular disorders despite treatment.

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How to diagnose Kawasaki disease

There is no specific test to diagnose Kawasaki disease.... Diagnosis is made by ruling out other diseases with similar symptoms. An example of these diseases is as follows:

• Scarlet fever is caused by streptococcus bacteria and causes fever, skin rash, chills and sore throat...
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome, mucous membrane disorder
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Measles
• Certain diseases caused by ticks, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever

The specialist doctor will perform a physical examination and order blood and urine tests to help make a diagnosis. This test may include the following:

• Blood test: In this way, the child's blood cells are checked for the possibility of contracting other diseases.. A high number of white blood cells, anemia, and inflammation are symptoms of Kawasaki disease.. Testing a substance called nanourinary peptide type B (BNP), which is secreted when the heart is under pressure, helps to diagnose this disease. Connecting... Kawasaki disease may disrupt the heartbeat.
• Echo: In this test, ultrasound imaging is used to show the function of the heart and can help diagnose problems with the heart vessels.

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How to treat Kawasaki disease

The doctor treats Kawasaki disease as soon as possible (preferably while the child still has a fever) to reduce the risk of complications.... The goal of initial treatment is to reduce fever and inflammation and prevent damage to the heart.

• Gamma globulin: Intravenous injection of immune protein (gamma globulin) reduces the risk of cardiovascular problems.
• Aspirin: A high dose of aspirin is effective in reducing inflammation. It also helps to reduce pain, joint swelling and fever.

There is an exceptional rule in the treatment of Kawasaki disease, according to which aspirin should not be given to a child.. Aspirin use in children recovering from influenza or chicken pox has been proven to lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare but dangerous disease.. Aspirin should only be given to a child under the supervision of a pediatrician>..

The initial treatment of Kawasaki disease is usually done in a hospital because there is a risk of serious complications.

What should be done after initial treatment

Once the fever has subsided, the child may need to take low-dose aspirin for at least six weeks....If the child has a coronary artery aneurysm, the child may need to take aspirin for a longer period of time because aspirin prevents blood clots.

However, if a child has the flu or chicken pox during treatment, aspirin should no longer be used... Aspirin can lead to a rare but dangerous Reye's syndrome, which affects children and adolescents after a viral infection of the blood, liver, and brain.

A child may begin to improve immediately after treatment with gamma globulin, but if left untreated, Kawasaki disease takes an average of 12 days. However, heart problems may take longer.

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Monitoring cardiac disorder

If the child shows signs of a heart disorder, the doctor prescribes other tests to periodically check the health of the heart. The time interval of these tests is usually six to eight weeks after the onset of the disease and then every six months.

If the heart problem continues, your doctor will refer you to a pediatric cardiologist... The treatment of heart problems caused by Kawasaki disease depends on the type of problem.... In case of an aneurysm of the heart vessels, treatment methods such as anticoagulants, intubation or bypass surgery are used.

Postpone the vaccination!

If your child has been injected with gamma globulin, it is best to wait 11 months before getting a chicken pox or measles vaccine because gamma globulin affects the effectiveness of these vaccines.

This is where you can get the information you need about Kawasaki disease so you can make informed decisions about your child's treatment with the medical team.

Although it may take some time for the child to return to normal and not feel tired and grumpy, most children with Kawasaki disease will make a full recovery. The Kawasaki Disease Institute has trained volunteers to help families currently struggling with the disease.

Preparation for a doctor's visit

You will probably first consult with a family doctor or pediatrician or through the online consultation option with a pediatrician, but sometimes the child will be referred to a doctor who specializes in pediatric heart disease.

Since the doctor's appointment is short and there is a lot of discussion, it is better to be fully prepared.... Below is information about preparing for the doctor's visit, as well as what to expect from him:

• Note the child's symptoms, including those that seem unrelated....Try to take the child's temperature and duration continuously.
• Make a list of the medications, supplements, or vitamins the child is taking.
• If possible, take a friend or family member with you... Sometimes it's hard to remember all the information you're given at an appointment... Having someone with you can remind you of something you've forgotten or missed.

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Write the questions you want to ask the specialist doctor

You may have limited time, so making a list of questions in advance is the best use of your time... Some of the most basic questions to ask your doctor about Kawasaki disease include:

• What is the most likely cause of the child's symptoms?
• Is it possible that the child's signs and symptoms have another cause?
• Should the child be tested?
• How long do the symptoms last?
• What treatment methods are there and which one do you recommend?
• What are the possible side effects of the treatment?
• Is there anything I can do to make my baby more comfortable?
• What are the signs that his condition is getting worse?
• What is the expected condition of the child in the long term?
• Is there a brochure or magazine I can take home with me?. What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions you have prepared to ask, if you have any questions during your visit, be sure to ask them.

What to expect from the doctor

Your pediatrician will probably ask you some questions... If you are prepared to answer these questions, you will have more time to address more important points.

• When did the child's symptoms start?
• How severe are the symptoms?.. What was the child's fever?. How long has it taken?
• Does anything help improve the symptoms? If yes, what?
• Does anything aggravate the symptoms? If yes, what?
• Has the child been exposed to infectious diseases?
• Does the child take any special medicine?
• Is your child allergic to anything?