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Congenital Heart Defects - Kawaski Disease
Kawasaki Disease (KD) is also termed "mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome." The cause of Kawasaki Disease has not been identified.
Kawasaki Disease is considered a self-limited disease -- after a period of time and even without medical consultation, the symptoms often resolve and the patient recovers. Without medical consultation, however, potential serious complications may develop and may not be recognized.
Kawasaki Disease most often affects children less than 4 years old with the majority being less than 2 years; although cases in older children have also been reported. The incidence of patients who have a sibling who has had Kawasaki Disease is 1 percent.
Due to the findings of high fever and enlarged lymph glands, Kawasaki Disease is thought to be an inflammatory process. Because the inflammation often involves the blood vessels of the body, Kawasaki Disease is felt to be a vasculitis (an inflammation of a blood vessel). The cause of this inflammatory response is not known.
