There are no specific tests for Kawasaki disease and it is diagnosed on the basis of clinical features.
It is highly treatable and most people make a full recovery.
This article discusses Kawasaki disease, its symptoms, and some of the possible causes.
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It explains how Kawasaki disease is treated along with some of the complications that can arise.
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Kawasaki Disease Symptoms
Kawasaki disease can develop over the course of several weeks.
Treatment for Kawasaki disease is typically initiated during the acute stage.
The last stage is the convalescent stage.
Can Kawasaki Disease Be Cured?
Complications such as aneurysm can arise, though, and this can have lasting physical effects.
It is more common among people who have family members who have also had it.
The inflammation produces the fever, redness, swelling, and other symptoms.
Vasculitis
Many Kawasaki disease symptoms are attributed tovasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels.
Laboratory Tests
A blood test or urine test can identify signs of inflammation.
Acomplete blood count (CBC)may showleukocytosis(elevated white blood count).
A urine test may show sterilepyuriawhite blood cells in the urine without evidence of an infection.
Specialized Tests
Certain complications of Kawasaki disease need to be evaluated with specialized tests.
Vision changes caused byanterior uveitis, inflammation in the eye, can be diagnosed with an eye examination.
An EKG is a noninvasive test that assesses the heart rate and rhythm.
The main treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the inflammation and vasculitis.
When there is an infection, targeted antibiotics or antivirals may be used to help fix the infection.
Aspirin reduces inflammation and is used to bring down the fever.
Other treatments including corticosteroids or Remicade (infliximab) are used when the standard treatment is not effective.
Summary
Kawasaki disease is a potentially serious inflammatory disorder that most often affects children under age 5.
There is no test for Kawasaki disease.
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