Kawasaki Disease

If you’ve been following my blog, you know I usually jump around between random biology discoveries. But recently, I found myself drawn to something much more personal and fascinating: Kawasaki disease.

Part of the reason this topic grabbed me is that I actually had Kawasaki disease as a kid. Furthermore, earlier this month, I had the chance to attend a lecture at the San Diego Children’s Rady Hospital Kawasaki Disease Emporium. I learned about the impacts that the disease has on kids and why understanding it is important.

So, I decided to start this series to explore Kawasaki disease. Over the next posts, I’ll dive into everything from how doctors diagnose it, why early treatment matters, the biology behind the disease, and even new research.

What Is Kawasaki Disease?

Kawasaki disease is a rare inflammatory illness that mostly affects young children. It causes swelling in blood vessels throughout the body, which is why doctors take it seriously. Even though it’s uncommon, early recognition matters because the inflammation can affect the heart and cause heart issues if it isn’t treated quickly.

The condition was first described in 1967 by Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki in Japan, and despite decades of research, the exact cause is still unknown. Many scientists think it’s triggered by an unusual immune reaction, possibly to an infection, in kids who are biologically more sensitive.

Key Symptoms

Kawasaki disease doesn’t have a single test to diagnose it, so doctors look for a combination of symptoms. These usually last five days or more. The most common signs include:

• High fever that doesn’t respond well to normal fever medicine
• Red eyes without discharge
• Red or cracked lips, swollen mouth, or a “strawberry” tongue
• Body rash
• Swollen hands and feet, sometimes followed by peeling skin
• A swollen lymph node on one side of the neck

Kids may also seem unusually irritable or tired, and some have stomach pain or joint discomfort.

Why It Matters

The biggest concern with Kawasaki disease is how it can affect the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. Without treatment, the inflammation can lead to:

• Coronary artery aneurysms
• Inflammation of the heart muscle
• Long-term heart complications

The good news is that early treatment, usually with IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin), dramatically reduces these risks. Most children who receive timely care recover fully.

How Doctors Diagnose It

Because there’s no single test, diagnosis is based on:

• Physical exam
• Duration of fever
• Combination of symptoms
• Blood tests for inflammation
• Echocardiograms to check the heart

This is part of why it can be tricky. Kawasaki disease can look similar to infections or other inflammatory conditions, so experience and careful observation matter.