Kawasaki Disease

Also known as: mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.

What is ​Kawasaki Disease?

When inflammation occurs in the coronary arteries and other medium-sized arteries throughout the body, the condition is known as Kawasaki disease. It affects young children usually under the age of 5.

What causes Kawasaki disease?

Doctors aren’t sure what causes Kawasaki disease. It appears to be related to some combination of genetics, reactions to other illnesses and environmental factors.

What are the symptoms of Kawasaki disease?

In its first phase, Kawasaki disease leads to fever for more than 5 days, swollen lymph nodes, swollen red lips and tongue (“strawberry tongue”), red runny eyes with redness of palms of hands & soles of feet, and skin rash. As it progresses, diarrhea, vomiting, pain and skin peeling can occur. Gradually the disease often goes away on its own after many weeks.

What are Kawasaki disease care options?

Kawasaki disease is usually treated in a hospital, ideally as soon as it is detected. Medications such as gamma globulin, cortisone and aspirin can help to reduce inflammation and minimize the damage that occurs to the body.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: July 22, 2022 02:02 PM