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Kawasaki disease
What should be paid attention to in the diet for Kawasaki disease?
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an autoimmune vasculitis. The main clinical manifestations include persistent fever for five days or more. Other symptoms include conjunctival congestion, dry and cracked lips, strawberry tongue, swollen cervical lymph nodes, and redness and swelling at the tips of fingers and toes. Due to recurrent fever, a light and easily digestible diet is recommended. It is advisable to drink plenty of water and eat vegetables and fruits, while avoiding spicy, stimulating, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods.
Is Kawasaki disease common?
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a disease of unknown etiology. Epidemiological data suggest that multiple pathogens such as Rickettsia, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, retroviruses, and Mycoplasma infections may be the causes, but these have not been confirmed. The incidence of this disease is relatively low worldwide, though it occurs more frequently among Asians. Epidemiological surveys in China from 2002 to 2004 indicated that the incidence rate among children under five in Beijing was 49.4/100,000. Although not particularly high, this incidence rate still makes it a relatively common autoimmune disease. The primary treatments for this disease are intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin.
Kawasaki Disease Etiology
The cause of Kawasaki disease is not very clear at present and is considered to be a disease caused by multiple factors, including viral infections, bacterial infections, rickettsial infections, genetic factors, and other factors. These comprehensive factors ultimately lead to the occurrence of Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, which is an acute, febrile, rash-associated pediatric disease primarily characterized by systemic vasculitis. Since this disease can lead to severe cardiovascular complications, the most serious complication is damage to the coronary arteries of the heart, resulting in coronary artery dilation, narrowing, aneurysms, and even myocardial infarction, etc. Therefore, parents must take it very seriously.
How long does it take for Kawasaki disease to get better?
How long does it take for Kawasaki disease to get better? Kawasaki disease mainly presents with symptoms such as fever, conjunctival congestion, hard swelling of the hands and feet, strawberry tongue, dry and cracked lips, rashes, or superficial lymphadenopathy, along with enlarged cervical lymph nodes, etc. The main hazard of this disease is coronary artery dilation or coronary artery aneurysm formation, which is the most dangerous complication. Generally speaking, if Kawasaki disease does not lead to coronary artery aneurysms or coronary artery dilation, with effective treatment, the symptoms can be controlled in about a week. However, this disease requires long-term follow-up examinations, typically after one month, three months, six months, and a year of discharge, we must conduct follow-up inspections. It is important to be vigilant for long-term complications involving the heart and coronary arteries, so follow-up inspections of the heart echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, etc., are necessary. If there is coronary dilation, continuous monitoring is required until the coronary arteries return to normal.
The recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a type of pediatric autoimmune disease that commonly affects infants and young children, especially those under the age of five. The exact mechanisms and causes of the disease are still unclear. The primary pathological change is systemic vasculitis, frequently affecting the coronary arteries. The recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease is between 1%-3%, with a few cases experiencing three or even four occurrences. The interval between recurrences ranges from three months to one year, averaging one year and five months. Studies have shown that being younger than three years old at the time of the first episode and having vascular damage are risk factors for recurrence.
Does Kawasaki disease cause a runny nose?
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, primarily presents with repeated high fevers that do not respond to antibiotics, conjunctival congestion, diffuse oral congestion, chapped and congested lips, polymorphic erythema and scarlatiniform rashes on the skin, and unilateral or bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. The cause of Kawasaki disease remains unclear, but studies suggest that respiratory or gastrointestinal infections may be common prodromal symptoms, indicating that the onset might be related to infections, though no contagious phenomena have been identified to date. Kawasaki disease might show prodromal signs such as upper respiratory infections, characterized by symptoms like a runny nose and cough, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, which suggests that a runny nose might be a manifestation of Kawasaki disease.
Is Kawasaki disease scary?
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a common pediatric autoimmune disease. The pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease remains unclear, and its etiology is also unknown, mainly focusing on immune reactions, genetic susceptibility, and theories of pathogenic microbial infections. Its primary pathological change is systemic vasculitis, most commonly affecting the coronary arteries. Most cases of Kawasaki disease have a good prognosis, with recurrences seen in 1% to 2% of patients. After effective treatment, complications involving coronary artery damage are less common. However, untreated patients develop coronary artery aneurysms in 15%-25% of cases. These aneurysms often resolve on their own within two years of the illness, but often leave behind complications such as thickened vessel walls and reduced elasticity. Large aneurysms are less likely to resolve completely and often lead to thrombosis or narrowing of the vessel lumen. Kawasaki disease is also one of the common causes of acquired heart disease in children. Thus, if Kawasaki disease is detected early, timely treatment is necessary to avoid cardiac sequelae. After effective treatment, the prognosis is generally good. However, if there are complications like coronary artery damage or other heart issues, it may affect the child's quality of life and even lifespan.
How long does Kawasaki disease require hospitalization?
Kawasaki disease is an autoimmune vasculitis, primarily concerning because it affects the coronary arteries of the heart. Without effective treatment, some cases can lead to coronary artery dilation and even the formation of coronary artery aneurysms. Therefore, hospitalization is generally recommended during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. During hospitalization, treatment typically involves the use of intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin. After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin, the body temperature generally begins to decrease gradually. Once the body temperature has stabilized for about three days and there are no complications, the patient can usually be discharged, so most hospital stays last about 5-7 days. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
Kawasaki Disease and Purpura Differences
The clinical manifestations of Kawasaki disease include fever lasting more than five days, ineffective antibiotic treatment, rashes, transient swelling of the cervical lymph nodes, conjunctival congestion, strawberry tongue, cracked lips, hard swelling of fingers and toes, and desquamation around the nails and anal region during the recovery phase. Allergic purpura is mainly manifested by rashes, which are generally hemorrhagic rashes below the buttocks, symmetrical on the lower limbs, raised above the skin surface, and usually without fever. Besides rashes, allergic purpura can also involve joint pain, abdominal pain, or allergic purpuric nephritis among other conditions.
Kawasaki disease causes
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is an immune-mediated systemic vasculitis syndrome and a relatively common pediatric febrile rash disease. To date, the etiology of Kawasaki disease is not entirely clear. Extensive epidemiological and clinical observations suggest that Kawasaki disease may be an acute immune dysregulation caused by infectious factors. Genetic factors are also related to the occurrence of Kawasaki disease. Various bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, and their metabolic products, such as superantigens produced by Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, are also related to the development of Kawasaki disease.