Kawasaki Disease - NYC Health

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Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki disease is a rare but serious illness that most commonly affects children under age five. It can cause coronary artery aneurysms (ballooning out of vessels in the heart) and affect other organs. A small number of cases are fatal.

Researchers are not sure how people get this disease or how it spreads, but they believe it may be caused by an infection. Kawasaki disease does not appear to be transmitted person-to-person.

Symptoms

Most children with Kawasaki disease have a high fever that does not respond to antibiotics. The fever typically lasts five days or more.

Other symptoms may appear seven to 10 days before fever, or may be present at the same time as fever. These symptoms can include:

Irritability or lethargy (sluggishness)

Red eyes

Dry and cracked lips

Cough

Runny nose

Sore throat

Red tongue with white spots

Peeling of the skin on the hands and fingers

Rash that may cover the entire body

Swollen lymph notes

Abdominal pain

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Prevention

At this time, there are no proven preventive measures for Kawasaki disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Most patients are treated in the hospital, where they can be closely watched. Health care providers often prescribe aspirin and immunoglobulin (antibodies).

Additional Resources

CDC: Kawasaki Disease

More Information

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)