Kawasaki disease is an illness that involves the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes, and most often affects kids under age 5. The cause is unknown, but if the symptoms are recognized early, kids with Kawasaki disease can fully recover within a few days. Untreated, it can lead to serious complications that can affect the heart
Kawasaki disease occurs in 19 out of every 100,000 kids in the United States. It is most common among children of Japanese and Korean descent, but can affect all ethnic groups.
Symptoms Include:
A persistent fever higher than 104°F (39°C) and lasts for at least 5 days.
Other symptoms that typically develop include:
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severe redness in the eyes
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a rash on the stomach, chest, and private parts
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red, dry, cracked lips
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swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps
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sore, irritated throat
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swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet with a purple-red color
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swollen lymph nodes
During the second phase, which usually begins within 2 weeks of when the fever started, the skin on the hands and feet may begin to peel in large pieces. The child also may experience joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. If your child shows any of these symptoms, call your doctor.
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/kawasaki.html
