Kawasaki Disease
Original Editors - Megan Castagno from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.
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Definition/Description[edit | edit source]
Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome (pathology), is a medium-sized vessel vasculitis that affects children, especially of Japanese descent, usually between the ages of 1 and 8. In 20% of untreated patient, the coronary arteries can be affected by the vasculitis. The cardiac involvement can cause acute myocarditis with heart failure, arrhythmias, pericarditis, endocarditis, and sometimes coronary artery aneurysms. Acquired heart disease in children is predominantly cause by this disease. Other areas of the body affected by the inflammation are the kidneys, biliary tract, upper respiratory tract, and pancreas. Only 2% of patients will have a reoccurrence, which will usually occur months to years later. (Merck Manual)
The prognosis is generally good for patient’s who are able to get treatment early enough, although there is the possibility of serious cardiovascular problems developing later on in life. For those who develop a large aneurysm (larger diameter than 8 mm) have the worst prognosis, as those will probably not regress or resolve. In some patients, severe ischemic heart disease can arise, which may necessitate a heart transplant. (pathology)
Prevalence[edit | edit source]
Kawasaki Disease can be found in any ethnic group, but is predominately found in the Asian population, more specifically the Japanese. (pathology) Japanese children under the age of 5 are 10 times more likely than Caucasian children of the same age group. The incidence of this disease in Hispanic and African American children falls in the middle. Males are 1.5 times more likely to get Kawasaki Disease than females. In the United States, there are approximately 4,000 cases each year. (Boston Children’s Hospital) Eighty percent of the cases of Kawasaki Disease are found in children under the age of 5. (pathology) The most prevalent age group is 18-24 months, and it is rare under the age of 4 months, (Merck Manual)
Characteristics/Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
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Associated Co-morbidities[edit | edit source]
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Medications[edit | edit source]
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Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values[edit | edit source]
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Etiology/Causes[edit | edit source]
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Systemic Involvement[edit | edit source]
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Medical Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)[edit | edit source]
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Differential Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
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