Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease is a self-limiting acute febrile disease affecting the arteries of infants and young children. This disease is characterized by inflammation of the small and medium-sized arteries throughout the body. Main coronary arteries are affected, the arteries that supply the heart muscle. The involvement of the carotid arteries leading to the abnormal dilation of the arteries (aneurysms) and myocardial infarction. 

Kawasaki syndrome, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome and infantile periarteritis the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the United States and Japan. The disease affects mainly infants and young children. It is a self-limited disease of unknown cause that presents with fever, rash and lymphadenopathy. Although most children recover from the disease without serious complications in some children does cause the disease of the arteries of the heart, the severe complications. 

Kawasaki disease is more common in children. More than a quarter of those affected by this disease, three out of five years. Girls are more affected than men. Kawasaki disease was first described in 1967 in Japan. It surpassed rheumatic fever as the leading cause of acquired heart disease in the United States and Japan. However, it can affect all ethnic groups. About 3,000 cases of Kawasaki disease are diagnosed in the United States each year. In the United States, Kawasaki disease is more common in winter and early spring.

Although Kawasaki disease is self-limiting disease that can occur in 3% of the children. Although usually affects children under five years, has now risen diagnosed in children and adolescents. Less than 1% of people who die affected by Kawasaki disease because of complications.