Kawasaki disease
There's no single test todiagnose Kawasaki disease. Your GP will confirmthe condition by looking at your child's symptoms and carrying out a physical examination.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) states that your child may have Kawasaki disease if they have a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above for longer than five days, and at least four of these key symptoms:
The skin on your child's fingers or toes may become red or hard, and their hands and feet may swell up. Your child's hands and feet may also be tender and painful to touch or put weight on, so they may be reluctant to walk or crawl.
In some cases, Kawasaki disease maybe diagnosed even if a child doesn't have four or more of the key symptoms listed above. It may be that they have atypical or incomplete Kawasaki disease.
A diagnosis of Kawasaki disease still maybe made if your child only had a fever for four days, but they have four or more of the key symptoms.
Your child may need to have further tests to rule out other conditions that could be causing their symptoms. Possible conditions your child could have include:
Several tests canalso be carried out during the first7 to 10 days to help support a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, including:
Individually, these tests may not be conclusive, but when combined with some of the key symptoms listedabove, they can help confirma diagnosis.
Complications of Kawasaki disease usually affect the heart. This means your child may need some tests to check their heart is functioning normally.
These might include an:
During the acute phase of Kawasaki disease (weeks 1-2), several heart abnormalities may be identified.
These could include:
In around 25% of cases of Kawasaki disease, the blood vessels around the heart (coronary arteries) are widened slightly.
In most cases, these abnormalities resolvesix to eight weeks after the conditionstarts, although further complications can developin some people.
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Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that mainly affects children under the age of five. It is also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
The symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually develop in three phases over a six-week period. A fever of 38C (100.4F) or more is usually the most common symptom.
The cause of Kawasaki disease is not fully understood, but the condition is thought to be caused by an infection. Genetics may also play a role.
There is no single test to diagnose Kawasaki disease. Your GP will confirm the condition by looking at your child's symptoms and carrying out a physical examination.
Kawasaki disease usually has to be treated in hospital as it can cause serious complications. Aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin are the two main treatments.
With prompt treatment, most children make a full recovery from Kawasaki disease. However, sometimes complications can develop.