Kawasaki Disease

Alternate Names : Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome, Kawasaki's Syndrome

Kawasaki's disease is a poorly understood condition that affects young children. It causes severe inflammation in different areas of the body, including the heart and coronary arteries.

What is going on in the body?

Scientists are not sure what causes inflammation of body organs seen in Kawasaki's disease. Many experts believe that a virus attacks the body, involving various organs and other tissues. Children with this disease have a severe flulike illness that usually goes away within a week or two. Twenty percent of the children with Kawasaki's disease have inflammation of the heart and coronary arteries.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

While the exact cause of Kawasaki's disease is unknown, many experts believe it is related to a viral infection. Eighty percent of the children with Kawasaki's disease are under 5 years old. It is rarely seen in adults or children after age 8. It is more common in boys than in girls. While it can occur in every race, it is more common in children of Asian descent.