What Is Kawasaki Disease?
Kawasaki (KAH-wah-SAH-ke) disease is a rare childhood disease. It’s a form of a disease called vasculitis (vas-kyu-LI-tis). In Kawasaki disease, the walls of the blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed. The disease can affect any type of blood vessel in the body, including the arteries, veins, and capillaries. In some cases, Kawasaki disease affects the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart. As a result, a small number of children who have Kawasaki disease may develop serious heart problems.
