What are the symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome?
Kawasaki syndrome typically occurs in three phases. In the first phase, most patients develop a fever (lasting for 5 to 14 days or more) that does not improve when treated with antibiotics. During this time, a rash develops on the body and reddish discolorations appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. As the illness progresses, the lips become dry and cracked, the tongue appears red (“strawberry tongue”), and lymph nodes in the neck become swollen. The second phase, also called the subacute phase, lasts about 2 weeks, when the fever ends and the tips of the fingers and toes tend to “peel.” The third phase is characterized by a long convalescent period when the clinical symptoms gradually fade. Rarely, central nervous system disorders, heart problems, and arthritis problems may develop as complications of Kawasaki syndrome. When do symptoms start? The time from exposure to development of symptoms is unknown. For how long is a person contagious? The contagious period
Kawasaki syndrome has a sudden onset, with a fever as high as 104°F (40°C) that does not respond to antibiotics and a rash that spreads over the patient’s chest and genitals. The fever is followed by a characteristic peeling of the skin beginning at the fingertips and toenails. The patient’s lips become very red, with the tongue developing a “strawberry” appearance. The palms, soles, and inner portion of the eyelids become purplish-red and swollen. The lymph nodes in the patient’s neck may also become swollen. These symptoms may last from two weeks to three months, with relapses in some patients.
