21  Kawasaki disease (KD) Posted by admin Source: Kawasaki Disease Foundation
Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is a serious illness characterized by inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body that primarily affects young children and infants. Kawasaki disease is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. Although about 80 percent of patients are under five years of age, older children and teenagers can also get KD, but this is uncommon. KD is more common in boys than girls, and the majority of cases are diagnosed in the winter and early spring. It is not contagious.
The disease is named after Tomisaku Kawasaki, a Japanese pediatrician who first described the illness in the medical literature in 1967. Although it is more prevalent among children of Asian and Pacific Island descent, KD affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. It is estimated that more than 4,200 children are diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease in the U.S. each year. The cause of KD is unknown, although an agent, like a virus, is suspected. There is no currently accepted scientific evidence that KD is caused by carpet cleaning or chemical exposure.
Kawasaki Disease is characterized by an inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body. There is no specific test for KD; doctors make a clinical diagnosis based on a collection of symptoms and physical findings. Early symptoms of KD include:- Fever that lasts for five or more days
- Rash, often worse in the groin area
- Red bloodshot eyes, without drainage or crusting
- Bright red, swollen, cracked lips, “strawberry” tongue, which appears with shiny bright red spots after the top coating sloughs off
- Swollen hands and feet and redness of the palms and soles of the feet
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Understandably, children with these symptoms are extremely uncomfortable and irritable. Any parent whose child has persistent fever and any of these symptoms should take him or her to the doctor immediately.
Without treatment, about 25% of children develop heart disease involving the coronary arteries. Timely diagnosis and treatment (which usually includes intravenous gamma globulin) is highly effective in preventing coronary complications. Doctors continue to study the long-term outcome of children who do not appear to have coronary involvement. Other kinds of longer-term consequences (e.g., non-coronary) are extremely rare. There is no evidence that links KD with autism or a seizure disorder. A very small number of KD children might have a seizure in the early acute stage of KD when there are very high fevers, but there is no on-going or long term seizure prone condition. | |   | 20 Ethan Posted by admin Family shares experience with rare disease to raise local awarenessCatherine Whitnall (LINDSAY) When Ethan Adamson developed a mild fever and a runny nose, his parents, Kim and Shaune, thought it was a simple cold.
But when Ethan’s fever spiked, a body rash accompanying his white-coated tongue, severely red eyes and dray cracked lips, they knew it had to be something more; especially when they noticed blood in the toddler’s urine.
“At first, we thought it was Scarlet fever,” said Mrs. Adamson, who didn’t hesitate to take Ethan to the hospital. “But after 24 hours on antibiotics, he wasn’t improving.”
Doctors had theories, but it wasn’t until the two-and-a-half year old was sent to Peterborough that a diagnosis was finally made.
Ethan had Kawasaki disease.
The final diagnosis caught the family off guard.
Aside from being a make of motorcycle, the Adamson’s had never heard of the illness.
Kawasaki disease is a rare illness involving the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes. It most often affects kids under age five. The cause is unknown, but if symptoms are recognized early, children with Kawasaki disease can fully recover within a few days. Untreated, it can lead to serious complications that can affect the heart.
Diagnosed, Ethan received treatment.
However, he improved only marginally in the first few days, but didn’t get better; in fact, after eight days, his health began to deteriorate.
The Adamsons found themselves headed to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children where Ethan received further treatment and, 17 days after the initial diagnosis, he was finally out of the woods.
“It was all very frightening,” said Mrs. Adamson noting, even after being treated, Ethan was still a shadow of his former self. “He hops all the time. But when we brought him home. . . it just broke my heart; he was so lethargic.”
There were also concerns their seven-year-old daughter Kailey might also fall ill.
Fortunately, Kawasaki disease is not contagious.
If treated quickly with doses of gamma globulin (purified antibodies), serious complications, such as vasculitis - an inflammation of the blood vessels - are often completely prevented. Ethan’s last echocardiogram was fine - he will need one or two more in the coming year - and must take aspirin for a couple more weeks to reduce the risk of heart problems.
Since coming home from Sick Kids on Feb. 27, Ethan has been steadily improving.
He’s “starting to get his hop back”, quips his mother and the nightmares which started after coming home - a product of his hospital experience; being awakened in the middle of the night for monitoring and treatment by staff - are less frequent.
The family hopes to put a positive spin on their experience by raising awareness about the illness.
“We went through this horrible experience and we want to do whatever we can to help others,” said Mrs. Adamson. “If we can spare just one family. . . “
Donations can be made through -[Click Here For More Info]- - click on personal fundraiser page, type and click on Adamson for Ethan’s story - or via mail in care of Katie McHugh-Escobar, Sick Kids Foundation, 525 University Avenue, 14th Floor, Toronto, ON, M5G 2L3 and indicate funds for Kawasaki disease research in honour of Ethan Adamson.
They also encourage parents to be more assertive when it comes to their child’s care.
“I think if we had pushed and had it confirmed earlier. . . ,” said Mr. Adamson. “Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. You have the right, when you leave the hospital, to have all the answers to your questions. And you definitely have to follow up.”
For more information on Kawasaki disease visit www.kdcanada.ca. | | | |
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