Kawasaki's Disease

Abstract

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute, selflimiting vasculitis of unknown etiology, predominantly occurring in infants. Initial manifestations include high fever, mucocutaneous inflammation and cervical lymphadenopathy. It can affect the coronary arteries and other vascular structures. In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) published the diagnostic criteria for typical and atypical (incomplete) EK. In both forms of the disease the diagnosis is clinical. Classical EK is diagnosed when the patient has a fever of more than 5 days and at least 4 of the following clinical features: bilateral conjunctival injection, changes in lips and oral cavity, cervical adenopathy, changes in extremities and polymorphous rash. If the patient has few clinical findings, but abnormalities are found in the coronary arteries in the echocardiogram, this can establish the diagnosis. The goal of treatment is to prevent systemic inflammation, and to prevent thrombosis in developed aneurysms. Immunoglobulin is the cornerstone in the treatment for KD, and should beinitiated within the first 10 days of onset of fever at doses of 2 g / kg single dose. Therefore it is of vital importance the knowledge of the criteria of clinical diagnosis for its early detection in order to avoid vascular complications that represent a threat to the life of patients.