Kawasaki Disease

 
Kawasaki disease: This disease has nothing to do with the motor bike of the same name. It is a syndrome of unknown origin that mainly affects young children, causing fever, reddening of the eyes (conjunctivitis), lips and mucous membranes of the mouth, ulcerative gum disease (gingivitis), swollen glands in the neck (cervical lymphadenopathy) and a rash that is raised and bright red (maculoerythematous) in a glove-and-sock fashion over the skin of the hands and feet which becomes hard, swollen (edematous) and peels off. Also called the mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.

The name of mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome is quite descriptive because the disease is characterized by the typical changes in the mucus membranes that line the lips and mouth and by the enlarged and tender lymph glands. The syndrome was first described in the late 1960's in Japan by the pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki.

Kawasaki disease affects the vascular system, and is now the main cause of acquired heart disease in children. It is most common in people of Asian descent, and is both more common and more deadly in males.

The cause of the disease is a mystery. Current theories include viral causes or an environmental toxin. Treatment is usually with IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin).

To learn more, see Kawasaki Disease.

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