How Kawasaki Disease Affects the Heart

Fever, rash, and red eyes, just a few of the major indicators of Kawasaki disease in children. However, these visible symptoms are not what what make KD dangerous, but the ones that occur inside the body.

Kawasaki disease is a type of vasculitis, meaning it causes an inflammation in blood vessels inside the body. This type of inflammation can have major impacts all over the body, but the most serious occur when inflammation occurs near the heart, or the coronary arteries.

When these arteries become inflamed, the artery walls weaken over time, which can lead to the formation of aneurysms. These aneurysms, called coronary artery aneurysms, are bulges in the blood vessel walls and are the most serious affect of KD. These bulges can disrupt blood flow, and even lead to blood clots, heart attacks, or lasting heart damage.

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/aortic-aneurysm.html

Although the real reason behind the inflammation is still unknown, scientists hypothesize that it is caused by a severe overreaction by the immune system. The immune system, as a response to KD, release inflammatory molecules that attack blood vessel walls. Instead of protecting the body, these molecules causes damage to vulnerable tissues, particularly near the heart.

Thus, early treatment is very important. When treated properly and on time, the risk of developing these diseases drops dramatically. However, if there is a delay in treatment or a mistreatment, the inflammation can progress and cause permanent heart damage.

Even after treatment, some children still need to be monitored regularly. By using echocardiograms to check the condition of these coronary arteries in children, doctors can ensure that no lasting damage has occurred in the arteries. Additionally, in some cases where KD is especially severe, patients may required lifelong treatment in order to maintain their heart health.

KD is not just a temperary illness in children, it can have consequential long term impacts as well. Therefore, understanding its impacts and the effects of proper, timely treatment is extremely important.