What is Kawasaki syndrome (KS)?
– KS is an acute illness of unknown cause that primarily affects children younger than 5 years of age. KS was first described in 1967 in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki. 2. What does KS look like? – KS is characterized by fever, rash, swelling of the hands and feet, irritation and redness of the whites of the eyes, swollen lymph glands in the neck, and irritation and inflammation of the mouth, lips, and throat. Serious complications of KS include damage to the coronary artery: e.g., dilation or bubbles in artery wall (aneurysms). KS is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in the United States. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin substantially decreases the development of these coronary artery abnormalities. 3. Where and when does KS occur? – KS occurs worldwide, with the highest incidence in Japan, and it most often affects boys and younger children. KS may have a winter-spring seasonality, and community-wide outbreaks have been occasionally reported. In the co
