Kawasaki Disease - A Rare Disease Affecting Children

There are many diseases and conditions that only affect children in this world. For parents these can be very scary when their child experiences one first hand. The more we know about these disorders the more we can do for our kids to help them overcome the condition. When I first heard of Kawasaki disease I thought it was an addiction to motorcycles or something having to do with engines. Turns out it's really nothing about engines. Kawasaki disease is a rare and quite severe childhood condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels. This disease commonly affects children between the ages of 18-24 months. It a few cases their have been children as old as 8 who are diagnosed with the disease. The disease occurs most often in the late winter and early spring. The condition is not at all contagious. Most of the little ones who go through this come out ok; sometimes it does lead to heart conditions in children.

The specific and direct cause for Kawasaki disease has not been discovered; many think it defiantly has to do with a virus and bacteria. Symptoms of the condition include a fever lasting at least five days or more, red eyes, a body rash, swollen lips and tongue, swollen feet and hands, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. This disease can be difficult to diagnose. Most often the doctors will wait for the fever to last the five days before diagnoses. There really is no specific test for Kawasaki however. Treatment for the disease may include medicine given through a vein IV called immunoglobulin to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels. They will also give aspirin to lower the risk of a blood clot forming. Blood thinners are common because of the high risk of clotting.