When you’re a child, three factors have been known to increase your likelihood of contracting Kawasaki Disease: age, gender and ethnicity.
Kawasaki Disease occurs when blood vessels in the body become inflamed or swollen, particularly those going to the heart (coronary arteries). This inflammation can damage these arteries and lead to further complications down the line.
1. Heart Problems
What Causes Kawasaki Disease at Your Age
Heart complications can develop in some children with Kawasaki Disease due to inflammation in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
In most cases, inflammation in the heart muscle or valves is temporary and does not permanently harm them; however, it’s essential that your child see a physician experienced in heart issues as soon as possible.
Kawasaki Disease can often result in temporary heart problems for children; however, some children develop long-lasting issues called coronary artery aneurysms when there is severe damage to their coronary arteries. If your child has one of these aneurysms, they must receive regular follow-up visits with a specialist for heart disease which should occur once annually or periodically thereafter.
2. Aneurysms
Aneurysms can occur in any part of the body, but are most frequently located within our arteries – thick-walled blood vessels that transport blood from our heart to other organs.
Aneurysms occur when a weak area of a blood vessel balloons out, much like a balloon does. They can be caused by various things like high blood pressure or plaque buildup in the arteries.
Some treatments can reduce the risk of aneurysm formation. The most effective option is immune globulin in IV form, which helps fight infection.
Kawasaki Disease typically requires hospitalization for a few days to ensure there are no other issues, and then they can go home on a low dose of aspirin for 6-8 weeks.
Due to the potential risk of coronary artery clots, children with this disease should see a cardiologist within 10 days after becoming ill. They can help determine when an echocardiogram is necessary and manage anticoagulation treatment to reduce blood clots in coronary arteries.
3. Symptoms
Kawasaki Disease can present as a high fever, irritability, red eyes, swollen hands and feet (including those of the affected), neck/throat swelling (strawberry tongue), as well as a rash. In severe cases the rash may cover most of the body with peeling skin on hands and feet (desquamation).
Kawasaki Disease can be treated largely with intravenous administration of high doses of gamma globulin (purified antibodies). This helps to stop the fever and alleviate most other symptoms your child may be experiencing.
Your doctor may order blood tests to detect inflammation and other problems. These may reveal mild anemia, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and abnormal white blood cells in either your blood or urine.
Your child will also receive high doses of aspirin and other medicines to reduce fever, ease pain and protect against heart damage. These treatments usually begin immediately and work effectively.
4. Treatment
Kawasaki Disease requires immediate treatment, especially within the first 10 days of illness. The goal is to stop the fever, relieve symptoms and protect heart blood vessels (coronary arteries).
The treatment for Crohn’s Disease typically consists of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin, with high-dose aspirin being another option.
In addition to relieving fevers, IVIG and aspirin help reduce inflammation throughout the body and protect against heart problems. They also prevent clots from forming in blood vessels supplying oxygen-rich blood to the heart.
Kawasaki Disease can lead to coronary artery abnormalities in 15-25 percent of children; without treatment, these numbers decrease dramatically and often result in thrombosis or death. With prompt treatment, however, this percentage drops drastically; most cases resolve or become resolvable with proper management and medications such as IVIG and aspirin plus corticosteroids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors or interleukin-1 inhibitors being given.
