Kawasaki syndrome is a rare disease characterized by inflammation of the blood vessel wall leading to the appearance of skin rashes, fever, enlarged ganglia and, in some children, cardiac and joint inflammation.
This disease is not contagious and happens more frequently in children up to 5 years old, mainly boys. Kawasaki syndrome is usually caused by changes in the immune system, which causes cells in the immune system to attack blood vessels, leading to inflammation. In addition to the autoimmune cause, it can be caused by viruses or genetic factors.
Kawasaki syndrome is curable when identified and treated quickly, and the treatment should be done according to the pediatrician's guidance, being most often done with the use of aspirin to relieve inflammation and injection of immunoglobulins due to the autoimmune response..
Signals and symptons
The symptoms of Kawasaki's disease are progressive and can characterize three stages of the disease. However, not all children show all symptoms. The first stage of the disease is characterized by the following symptoms:
- High fever, usually above 39 ºC, for at least 5 days; Irritability; Red eyes; Red and chapped lips; Tongue swollen and red like a strawberry; Red throat; Tongue in the neck; red spots on the skin of the trunk and in the area around the diaper.
In the second phase of the disease, there begins to be flaking of the skin on the fingers and toes, joint pain, diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting that can last for close to 2 weeks. In the third and final stage of the disease, the symptoms slowly begin to regress until they disappear.
How to treat
Kawasaki Syndrome is curable and its treatment consists of the use of medicines to reduce inflammation and prevent the worsening of symptoms. Usually the treatment is done with the use of aspirin to reduce fever and inflammation of the blood vessels, mainly the arteries of the heart, and high doses of immunoglobulins, which are proteins that are part of the immune system, for 5 days or according to medical advice.
At the end of the fever, the use of small doses of aspirin may continue for a few months to reduce the risk of damage to the heart arteries and clot formation. However, to avoid Reye's Syndrome, which is a disease caused by prolonged use of aspirin, Dipyridamole can be used according to medical advice.
Treatment should be carried out during hospitalization until there is no risk to the child's health and no possibility of complications, such as heart valve problems, myocarditis, arrhythmias or pericarditis. Another possible complication of Kawasaki's disease is the formation of aneurysms in the coronary arteries, which can lead to artery obstruction and, consequently, infarction and sudden death. See what are the symptoms, causes and how the aneurysm is treated.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of Kawasaki syndrome is made according to the criteria established by the American Heart Association based on the observation of the symptoms presented by the child. Thus, the following criteria are assessed:
- Fever for five days or more; Conjunctivitis without pus; Presence of red and swollen tongue; Redness and edema of the oropharynx; Visualization of fissures and lip redness; Redness and edema of hands and feet, with flaking in the groin area; Presence of red spots swollen lymph nodes on the neck.
In addition to the clinical examination, tests that can help confirm the diagnosis, such as blood tests, echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and chest X-ray, may be ordered by the pediatrician.
