Kawasaki Disease

Overview

Kawasaki disease occurs most often in children under six years old. Mayo Clinic specialists have great expertise in treating children with Kawasaki disease. Mayo Clinic physicians have extensive experience in infectious diseases and heart disease in children, and Mayo Clinic is a leading center for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of heart defects. Our team of medical experts includes: infectious disease specialists, rheumatologists, pediatric cardiologists, pediatricians and social workers who help families adjust to the unique challenges of living with a sick child.

Diagnosis

No laboratory test can diagnose Kawasaki disease with 100 percent certainty. Instead, a set of criteria described by the Centers for Disease Control are used. The illness can be divided into three phases: acute, sub-acute, and convalescent. Read more on Kawasaki disease diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Treatment for Kawasaki Disease is most effective if given in the first 10 days of the illness. There are two principal treatments. Intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) is used to shorten the acute phase of Kawasaki disease and prevent some coronary damage. Aspirin is used to decrease inflammation and lower fever, as well as prevent blood clots. Read more about Kawasaki disease treatment options.

About Kawasaki Disease

The disease is named after a Japanese physician who first reported the syndrome in 1967. Kawasaki disease occurs throughout the world, with a higher incidence in Japan and Asia than in the United States, where 10 of every 100,000 children get the disease each year. The symptoms of Kawasaki disease can go away without treatment. However it may take 6-8 weeks for the symptoms to resolve and the child's laboratory results to return to normal. The effects on the coronary arteries can last a lifetime. Though some children recover from Kawasaki disease without treatment, 15 to 25 percent have coronary artery damage. Damage can occur to many arteries, but the coronary arteries are the most vulnerable, making Kawasaki disease a leading cause of childhood heart disease.