What is Kawasaki disease? Is it contagious?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on January 10, 2025
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Kawasaki disease is a common pediatric febrile rash disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. It is a systemic vasculitis syndrome mediated by immune mechanisms. Kawasaki disease may be caused by acute immune dysregulation due to infectious factors, and genetic factors may be related to the acute onset of the disease. Therefore, Kawasaki disease is not contagious, and contact with children with Kawasaki disease will not lead to transmission. Kawasaki disease generally occurs in infants and young children, and there is no clear seasonal pattern to its occurrence, nor significant gender differences.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Is Kawasaki disease prone to recurrence?

Kawasaki disease is a common pediatric febrile, rash-causing illness, and once diagnosed, treatment must begin actively. Most cases of Kawasaki disease have a very good prognosis with standard treatment, but about 5% of children may experience temporary coronary artery abnormalities, and the recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease can reach 1% to 3%. Therefore, once a child is diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, it is essential to conduct follow-up throughout the treatment process. Follow-ups should be done at three months, six months, and one year after the onset of the disease in new cases. The purpose of the follow-up is mainly to assess the child's prognosis and evaluate the coronary arteries to see if there is any recurrence, so this follow-up work is very important.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Is Kawasaki disease characterized by eye discharge?

Kawasaki disease is an autoimmune vasculitis that can affect blood vessels throughout the body and various organs, but the most severe impact is typically on the coronary arteries, which can lead to dilation of the coronary arteries or the possibility of forming coronary artery aneurysms. The disease can cause conjunctival congestion, but this is a manifestation of aseptic conjunctivitis, meaning it does not cause, nor does it result in, purulent secretions, in other words, it does not cause eye discharge. Therefore, if a patient with Kawasaki disease has purulent eye discharge, it is possible that they have a concurrent bacterial conjunctivitis. Thus, generally, eyes affected by Kawasaki disease do not have eye discharge but may appear dry and red.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Causes of secondary recurrence of Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease, also known as mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome, commonly affects children and infants under five years old. It is an acute, systemic vasculitic disease. Clinically, it is primarily characterized by persistent fever, bilateral conjunctival congestion, cracked lips, strawberry tongue, rash, hard swelling of hands and feet, fingertip desquamation, and enlargement of cervical lymph nodes. In severe cases, it can lead to coronary artery dilation, coronary artery aneurysms, and thrombotic obstruction. The exact cause of Kawasaki disease is not very clear, but it is mainly believed to be related to infections. The probability of secondary recurrence of Kawasaki disease is about 2%, and its causes mainly have to do with infections, immune factors of the body, genetic factors, and so on.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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How many days does it take to be discharged from the hospital for Kawasaki disease?

Kawasaki disease is a disease with unclear pathogenesis and etiology. A major pathological change is systemic vasculitis, which commonly affects the coronary arteries. Typically, it presents with fever lasting from seven to fourteen days or longer, and antibiotics are ineffective in treatment. During the first through sixth weeks of the illness, complications such as pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis, and arrhythmias may occur. Coronary artery damage often occurs between the second and fourth weeks of the illness, and proactive and effective treatment of Kawasaki disease can prevent coronary complications. The acute phase generally involves symptomatic supportive care, prevention of platelet aggregation, fever reduction, and prevention of coronary artery damage. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin is recommended within the first ten days of onset. If the treatment is not effective, other special medications like steroids may be used, and the treatment duration is generally between two to four weeks. Thus, the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease is uncertain, and its pathological process is prolonged. The specific timing of discharge depends on the child's condition. If the fever is controlled and no significant coronary artery damage is evident, and the condition is stable, then discharge is possible. However, post-discharge, follow-up should be conducted based on the child's specific condition. Therefore, the duration of hospitalization for Kawasaki disease is not fixed and depends on the child's condition and treatment response.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Kawasaki disease peeling symptoms

Kawasaki disease is a disease with unclear etiology and unclear pathogenesis of the autoimmune system. Its main pathological change is systemic vasculitis, commonly occurring in the coronary arteries. At the onset, symptoms in the hands and feet include stiff swelling and erythema during the acute phase. In the recovery phase, membranous peeling occurs at the junction of the skin and the nail base of fingers and toes, and there are transverse grooves in the nails. In severe cases, the nails of the fingers and toes may also fall off. Additionally, its skin manifestations include polymorphic skin plaques and scarlet fever-like rashes, which commonly appear in the first week of the disease, with redness and peeling of the skin around the anus.