Kawasaki disease is a rare childhood illness that affects the blood vessels and can cause heart problems, it is most common in children between the ages of 1-2 years.

The symptoms can be severe for several days. The first phase of symptoms will include a fever that lasts more than three days, extremely red eyes, a rash on the main part of the body and genital area. Red, dry, cracked lips and an extremely red, swollen tongue. Swollen, red skin on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet. Swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Irritability.  

In the second phase, your child may develop peeling of the skins on the hands and feet, especially at the tips, and often in large sheets of skin. Joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The third phase the symptoms slowly fade away if no other complications have developed. It may take as long as eight weeks for their energy levels return to normal.

The cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown, but it is not believed to be contagious. Certain genes make your child more likely to get Kawasaki disease. Complications can arise from Kawasaki disease, including inflammation of the blood vessels that supply the blood to the heart, inflammation of the heart muscle and heart valve problems. These complications can cause damage to your child’s heart, and in a very small percentage death, even with treatment.

Your doctor will want to begin treatment as soon as possible to avoid complications. The goal of the initial treatment is to lower your childs fever and prevent heart damage. Initial treatment could be an infusion of the immune protein (gamma globulin) into a vein. Aspirin may help treat the inflammation and decrease joint pain as well as reduce the fever. Kawasaki disease is the rare exception that aspirin can be given to children as it has been linked to Reye’s syndrome.

Although your child should begin to feel better after the first gamma globulin treatment, the disease usually lasts on average on 12 days. Careful monitoring of your child will ne necessary after treatment for Kawasaki disease. Follow up heart tests at regular intervals are advisable.