Does Kawasaki disease cause coughing?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Kawasaki disease has an unclear pathogenesis, primarily manifesting as systemic vasculitis, frequently affecting the coronary arteries. Clinically, it is characterized by fever, typically a high fever lasting seven to fourteen days, and is unresponsive to antibiotic treatment. Other symptoms include conjunctival congestion, cracked lips, diffuse oral congestion, and strawberry tongue. In the acute phase, there might be hard edema and erythema development, with polymorphous erythema and scarlatiniform rash typically on the trunk. Additionally, unilateral or bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy with tenderness can occur. Generally, coughing is rare and may be due to other infections like upper respiratory infections in children with weaker immunity.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What is Kawasaki disease? Is it contagious?

Kawasaki disease is a common pediatric febrile rash disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. It is a systemic vasculitis syndrome mediated by immune mechanisms. Kawasaki disease may be caused by acute immune dysregulation due to infectious factors, and genetic factors may be related to the acute onset of the disease. Therefore, Kawasaki disease is not contagious, and contact with children with Kawasaki disease will not lead to transmission. Kawasaki disease generally occurs in infants and young children, and there is no clear seasonal pattern to its occurrence, nor significant gender differences.

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Written by Shi Ji Peng
Pediatrics
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How long does Kawasaki disease require hospitalization?

Kawasaki disease requires hospitalization and continued medication after discharge. The duration of the hospital stay is mainly determined by the child's clinical symptoms. The child can return home when the fever subsides and the dosage of aspirin is reduced, which may take about four to seven days, although this is just a general scenario. After discharge, medication must continue. If the child's coronary arteries are fine, with no dilation or lesions, a low dose of aspirin can be taken for about two months. If there are issues with the coronary arteries, aspirin must be continuously taken until the dilation resolves before stopping the aspirin, so this period can be quite long.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Why do children get Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease has an unclear pathogenesis. It is speculated that it may be related to infections by microorganisms or other pathogens, familial genetic susceptibility, or autoimmune functions. Currently, the entire medical history is unclear, and there is no specific epidemiology identified for the onset of the disease; it can occur in any of the four seasons. The disease primarily affects infants and young children, with about 80% of cases occurring in children under five years of age. The ratio of male to female incidence is approximately 1.5:1. Thus, Kawasaki disease is most commonly seen in infants and young children. Currently, there is no definitive explanation for the mechanism of the disease.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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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.