What is Kawasaki disease?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 19, 2024
00:00
00:00

Kawasaki disease is a disease possibly related to viruses. Currently, the exact cause of Kawasaki disease is unclear, and the mechanism of its onset is also not well understood. It is characterized primarily by systemic vasculitis and is an acute febrile exanthematous disease. Clinically, it presents with symptoms such as rash, fever, conjunctival congestion, cracked lips, oral mucosal congestion, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, and peeling of the skin on the extremities. The cause of Kawasaki disease is unclear, but various viral infections observed clinically could potentially exacerbate the progression of Kawasaki disease. It mainly affects the coronary arteries, so there is a certain link between Kawasaki disease and viruses. However, it is not necessarily the direct cause of Kawasaki disease but could worsen or be a concomitant disease.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
46sec home-news-image

Kawasaki disease incubation period

Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a common pediatric fever and rash illness, primarily a systemic small vessel vasculitis. Kawasaki disease is not contagious, so it has no incubation period; only infectious diseases have incubation periods. If it were contagious, typical manifestations would include persistent high fever, pinpoint appearances around the eyes and mouth, typical rash, swelling of the hands and feet, and non-purulent swelling of the cervical lymph nodes. Therefore, Kawasaki disease has no incubation period and is a vasculitis mediated by immune mechanisms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
1min 50sec home-news-image

Is Kawasaki disease serious?

Kawasaki disease is an etiologically unclear disease with a not well-understood pathogenesis. The principal pathological change involves inflammatory changes in the systemic blood vessels, which can affect the coronary arteries and lead to coronary artery aneurysms and dilation. Kawasaki disease is self-limiting, and most cases resolve well, with recurrences seen in 1-2% of cases. For patients without coronary artery lesions, comprehensive examinations are required 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1-2 years after discharge, including physical examinations, electrocardiograms, and echocardiograms, mainly to assess the heart's condition. If not effectively treated, 15-20% may develop coronary artery aneurysms; such cases need semi-annual or annual medical check-ups. Coronary artery aneurysms often self-resolve within two years post-diagnosis, typically leaving functional abnormalities such as thickening of the vessel wall and reduced elasticity. Major artery aneurysms often do not disappear completely and can lead to thrombosis or narrowing of the vessel lumen. Kawasaki disease is one of the common causes of acquired heart disease in children; therefore, if Kawasaki disease is accompanied by severe coronary damage, it may heal well but could lead to heart disease. If it is not a severe case of Kawasaki disease, timely treatment can still result in a good recovery.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
52sec home-news-image

Is Kawasaki disease characterized by eye discharge?

Kawasaki disease is an autoimmune vasculitis that can affect blood vessels throughout the body and various organs, but the most severe impact is typically on the coronary arteries, which can lead to dilation of the coronary arteries or the possibility of forming coronary artery aneurysms. The disease can cause conjunctival congestion, but this is a manifestation of aseptic conjunctivitis, meaning it does not cause, nor does it result in, purulent secretions, in other words, it does not cause eye discharge. Therefore, if a patient with Kawasaki disease has purulent eye discharge, it is possible that they have a concurrent bacterial conjunctivitis. Thus, generally, eyes affected by Kawasaki disease do not have eye discharge but may appear dry and red.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
48sec home-news-image

Is IgE high in Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, has an unclear pathogenesis. It is speculated that certain components of infectious sources, such as superantigens, can activate CD30 T cells and CD40 ligand expression directly by binding with T cell antigen receptor fragments without going through mononuclear macrophages. Under the induction of carrier cells, there is polyclonal activation and reduced apoptosis of B08 cells, resulting in the production of large amounts of immunoglobulins such as IgG, IgM, IgA, and IgE, and cytokines. Therefore, the IgE levels in Kawasaki disease are elevated.