Kawasaki Disease

Overview

Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in your child's arteries. The disease is named after the doctor who first reported the syndrome. The disease and symptoms usually occur over six weeks or less.

Kawasaki disease occurs throughout the world, but it is more common in Japan and Asia than in the United States. Kawasaki disease most often occurs in children younger than 5 years. Your child may recover from Kawasaki disease without treatment, though your child's symptoms persist for several weeks.

Some children who have Kawasaki disease develop heart complications or permanent coronary artery disease and heart damage. Heart complications could include inflammation of your child's heart muscle (myocarditis), heart valve problems (mitral regurgitation), heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia) or weakening or bulging of the coronary artery wall (aneurysm).

Why choose Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic specialists offer many treatment options for children who have Kawasaki disease or other heart disease. A team of doctors trained in child and adolescent medicine, pediatric cardiology, infectious diseases and rheumatology care for children who have Kawasaki disease.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery.

Read more about Kawasaki disease at MayoClinic.com.

Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.