Kawasaki disease: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

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Definition

What is Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, is a rare disease that attacks blood vessels.

This condition causes inflammation of the arteries, veins and capillaries.

This disease also affects the lymph nodes and heart function. This disease is more common in infants and children.

In addition, Kawasaki disease is one of the main causes of the high incidence of heart disease in children.

The appearance of this disease is generally characterized by a high fever, rash, and swelling in several parts of the body.

If detected and treated early on, your risk of suffering from heart problems will decrease and your symptoms will get better.

However, until now, the cause of the appearance of this disease is still unknown.

How common is Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is a rare disease, but it is very serious and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

This disease is more common in East Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

The highest incidence of this disease is in Japan, with a frequency of 10-20 times higher than other countries.

Cases of emergence or diagnosis of Kawasaki disease continue to increase from year to year.

Generally, patients diagnosed with this disease are under 10 years of age.

About 85-90% of cases of this disease occur in children under 5 years, and 90-95% in children under 10 years.

In addition, this disease is more often found in boys than girls.

The death rate and disease complications were more common in male patients than female.

To find out more about this disease and to identify the risk factors that exist, you can consult a pediatrician.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of Kawasaki disease?

The signs and symptoms of Kawasaki disease generally appear gradually. In some countries in Asia, symptoms appear more frequently in midsummer.

The most common symptom is a prolonged high fever. In addition, there will be some additional symptoms as the disease progresses.

Generally, the appearance of symptoms is divided into three phases. Signs and symptoms from the first phase can include:

• A fever that is generally higher than 39 degrees Celsius and lasts more than 5 days
• Very red eyes (conjunctivitis), but no fluid or discharge buildup
• Rash on several parts of the body and on the genital area
• Red, dry, cracked lips, and a very red, swollen tongue (strawberry tongue)
• Swelling and redness of the palms and feet
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body
• The child becomes fussy and irritable

The second phase usually starts 2 weeks after the child first develops a fever. Your child may experience additional symptoms, such as:

• Exfoliation on the skin of the hands and feet, especially on the tips of the fingers and toes, the peeling skin is usually large in size
• Joint pain
• Diarrhea
• Gag
• Stomach ache

In the third phase, signs and symptoms will slowly disappear unless complications develop. It may take about 8 weeks before the child's condition returns to normal.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If your child is suffering from the signs and symptoms that have been mentioned above, do not delay any more time to have your child checked by the nearest doctor.

Diagnosis and treatment as early as possible can prevent complications.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary.

To get the most appropriate treatment and according to your child's condition, always consult a doctor.

What are the complications caused by Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is one of the leading causes of heart attacks in children. As many as 25% of sufferers of this disease have complications in the heart.

However, with proper treatment, the risk of a child experiencing heart problems can be reduced.

Complications that may arise on the heart are:

• Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis), generally occurs in the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart
• Inflammation of the lining of the heart membrane (pericarditis)
• Inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis)
• Increased heart rate (tachycardia)
• Heart mitral valve problems
• Heart attack

In addition to complications in the heart, Kawasaki disease can also sometimes affect the function of other organs, such as:

• Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
• Enlarged liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly)
• Inflammation of the lining of the brain (meningitis)
• Inflammation of the ear (otitis media)

Cause

What causes Kawasaki disease?

Until now, researchers have not been able to reveal the exact cause of this disease. However, one thing the researchers believe is that the disease is not transmitted from physical contact.

In addition, it is believed that Kawasaki disease arises from an infection. Genetic and immune system factors are also strongly suspected of playing a role in the emergence of this disease.

1. Infection

The symptoms and signs exhibited by sufferers of this disease are similar to signs of infection.

Therefore, it is possible that this condition is an infectious disease in children that comes from certain bacteria or viruses that trigger the emergence of this disease.

However, until now, it is not certain what pathogen causes this disease.

Some of the pathogens that have been studied and are thought to play a role in the appearance of symptoms are parvovirus B19, rotavirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and parainfluenza virus type 3.

2. Genetic factors

Apart from the possibility of a viral or bacterial infection, experts suspect that some children have a predisposition to genetic disorders

This is what makes it more susceptible to this disease. That means, the condition could be passed down from the child's parents.

This is also supported by the fact that this disease is more common in children of East Asian descent, especially Japan and Korea.

So, it is possible that Kawasaki disease is caused by a genetic problem.

Risk factors

What increases a person's risk for Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is a condition that can affect anyone. There are several factors that can increase a person's risk for developing this disease.

However, having one or even all of the risk factors does not mean that you or your child will definitely develop this disease.

In some cases, Kawasaki can also occur in patients who do not have any risk factors.

The following are risk factors for Kawasaki disease, namely:

1. Age

This disease is more common in children and infants, especially those under 5 years of age. The average age of the patient at diagnosis was 2 years old.

This condition is very rare in adolescents and adults, although there have been some cases in patients aged 18 to 30 years.

2. Gender

If your child is male, the risk of getting this disease is much higher than that of female children.

3. Ethnic groups

Cases of this disease are mostly found in East Asian countries, such as Japan, Korea and Taiwan.

Therefore, children who are descended from an East Asian ethnic group have a greater chance of developing Kawasaki disease than children from other ethnic groups.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is Kawasaki disease diagnosed?

Kawasaki disease is a very difficult condition to diagnose because there are no specific tests to detect it.

You can take your child to the doctor immediately if any of the following occurs:

• Your child has a fever that lasts more than 5 days.
• Your child experiences 5 main symptoms, namely redness in the eyes, dry lips and mouth, swollen or peeling hands and feet, a rash, and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.

However, in some cases, this disease can also be diagnosed even though the sufferer does not show the main symptoms above, or even the fever lasts less than 4 days.

With these symptoms, there may be a disease or other health problem that your child is suffering from, such as:

• Scarlet fever, which is caused by the streptococcus bacteria
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Measles
• Lymph node fever
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome, an abnormality of the mucous membranes.
• Meningitis
• Lupus

To determine whether your child has Kawasaki disease or not, the doctor will perform several tests which include:

1. Urine test

This test is done by taking a small sample of your child's urine.

The urine will be checked in the laboratory to see if it has white blood cells and protein (albumin) in it.

2. Blood test

The doctor will draw the child's blood to check the levels of white blood cells and the sedimentation rate.

This can help indicate whether inflammation or inflammation is occurring in the body.

Blood tests also help doctors detect clots in the blood.

3. Chest X-ray

Through this procedure, the doctor will take pictures of the inside of the child's chest, such as the heart and lungs.

This test aims to see whether Kawasaki disease has attacked the heart or not.

4. Electrocardiogram

This test is done by attaching electrodes to the skin, then counting the electrical impulses in the child's heart rate.

This is because Kawasaki disease can also affect heart rate.

5. Echocardiogram

In this test, doctors use technology ultrasound to see how well the heart is functioning. Coronary artery abnormalities can also be detected with this procedure.

How to treat Kawasaki disease?

To reduce the occurrence of complications, the doctor will immediately recommend treatment for Kawasaki disease as soon as possible, especially when your child still has a fever.

The main goals of treatment are to reduce and prevent the risk of heart damage, as well as reduce symptoms such as inflammation and fever.

The main treatment that doctors usually give is immunoglobulin infusion and aspirin. Here's the explanation:

1. Immunoglobulin (IVIG)

The doctor will provide immunoglobulin treatment through a vein (infusion). This treatment can help lower your risk of coronary artery and heart problems by as much as 20 percent.

2. Aspirin

Aspirin in certain doses can help treat inflammation or inflammation. Aspirin can also help reduce pain and arthritis, as well as reduce fever.

Giving aspirin to children is only allowed in cases of this disease, and of course on a doctor's recommendation or prescription.

In addition, when there is an outbreak of flu or chickenpox, children who are receiving aspirin treatment are at risk of developing Reye's syndrome.

To prevent this, your doctor will recommend an annual influenza vaccination, as well as possibly replacing aspirin with dipyridamole.

In some cases, if the child has heart problems due to this disease, the doctor will provide further treatment in the form of:

• Anticoagulant drugs

This medicine helps reduce the risk of blood clots. Typically, doctors will prescribe clopidogrel (Plavix), warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), and heparin.

• Coronary artery angioplasty

Children who suffer from this disease are at risk for narrowing of the arteries. This angioplasty procedure is performed to increase blood flow to the heart.

• Installationstent

In this procedure, a device is placed in the artery to improve blood flow and prevent blockages. This procedure is usually combined with angioplasty.

• Coronary artery bypass

This operation is performed by diverting blood flow with a blood vessel transplant.

Usually, the blood vessels that are taken are those in the legs, arms, or chest.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat Kawasaki disease?

Aspirin therapy is generally continued at home. However, because of the risk to Reye's syndrome, do not give aspirin to your child without the doctor's approval.

If your child is exposed to or has chickenpox or the flu (influenza) while taking aspirin, call the doctor immediately.

Your child will probably feel tired and fussy, and the skin will be dry for about a month.

Try to keep your child from getting tired. Give it lotion skin to moisturize the fingers and toes.

How serious is Kawasaki disease?

It will take several weeks before your child fully recovers. Usually, however, children who have Kawasaki disease get better and have no long-term problems.

Early treatment is important, because it can shorten the disease and reduce the chance of heart problems.

Follow-up tests can help you and your doctor to make sure this disease is not causing any heart problems.

Some children can experience damage to the coronary arteries. Arteries can become too large and aneurysm occurs.

The arteries may also narrow and you may be at risk for developing blood clots.

Children with coronary artery damage are more likely to have heart attacks in adulthood.

If your child has this disease, know what to pay attention to and when to seek help.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.