Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self-limited multisystemic disease of unknown etiology that typically causes fever and acute inflammation in young children. It is also referred to as "mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome," because of its involvement of the mucous membranes, skin, and lymph nodes. It has 3 stages that lasts about 12 days which are comprised of the acute, subacute, and convalescent phases. This syndrome may result in the complication of damage to the coronary arteries, due to inflammatory cell infiltration into vascular tissues.
Etiology and Epidemiology
The exact etiology of Kawsaki disease unknown. There are several theories that have been proposed secondary to the data that has been collected. It is unknown if there is an agent …show more content…
Medication is usually initiated with the goal of reducing fever and inflammation as well as prevent the risk of complications. Hospitalization is necessary in order to administer intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin. These two medications have become the mainstay of treatment for prevention of coronary aneurysms development (Sundel, 2016). IVIG prevents aneurysms in a dose-dependent fashion and high-dose aspirin is used for both its antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. A single dose of 2 g/kg is given within 10 days of illness or later if a patient has persistent fever, aneurysms, or inflammation. This therapy reduces coronary artery abnormalities from 25% to 5% (Sundel, 2016). Patients are given 80 to 100 mg/kg/day four times a day until the patient is afebrile for 49-72 hours, followed by 3-5 mg/kg/day (Sundel, 2016). Lower doses of aspirin are used for at least six weeks after the dissipation of fever for its anti-platelet effects. Recent studies have shown that corticosteroids added as an adjunct to IVIG in acute and refractory KD significantly reduced the risk of coronary abnormalities (Sundel, 2016). Patients that do not improve with initial therapy and have persistant fever will require a second infusion of IVIG along with adding corticosteroids (Sundel,
Etiology and Epidemiology
The exact etiology of Kawsaki disease unknown. There are several theories that have been proposed secondary to the data that has been collected. It is unknown if there is an agent …show more content…
Medication is usually initiated with the goal of reducing fever and inflammation as well as prevent the risk of complications. Hospitalization is necessary in order to administer intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin. These two medications have become the mainstay of treatment for prevention of coronary aneurysms development (Sundel, 2016). IVIG prevents aneurysms in a dose-dependent fashion and high-dose aspirin is used for both its antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects. A single dose of 2 g/kg is given within 10 days of illness or later if a patient has persistent fever, aneurysms, or inflammation. This therapy reduces coronary artery abnormalities from 25% to 5% (Sundel, 2016). Patients are given 80 to 100 mg/kg/day four times a day until the patient is afebrile for 49-72 hours, followed by 3-5 mg/kg/day (Sundel, 2016). Lower doses of aspirin are used for at least six weeks after the dissipation of fever for its anti-platelet effects. Recent studies have shown that corticosteroids added as an adjunct to IVIG in acute and refractory KD significantly reduced the risk of coronary abnormalities (Sundel, 2016). Patients that do not improve with initial therapy and have persistant fever will require a second infusion of IVIG along with adding corticosteroids (Sundel,