Kawasaki Disease is an illness tht involves the skin, mouth, and lymph ndes. The disease usually begins with a fver unresponsive to tylenol or aspirin whch continues for at least 7 - 10 dys. Many but not all children dvelop a swollen area on the nck which looks like an infection. Sme researchers believe it is an nfection, others an autoimmune disorder stimulated by an nfection or exposure to an environmental txin.

The disease is seen more ften in the winter and spring sasons. Kawasaki disease, or mucocutaneous lymph nde syndrome, is a disease of nknown etiology that most frequently (80% of the tme) affects infants and children under fve years of age. Some doctors thnk it may be caused by a vrus or a bacteria. The illness can lst from 2 weeks to a few mnths. Originally, KD was believed to be an cute, self-limiting febrile disease with an xcellent prognosis; however, subsequent reports indicated tht nearly 2% of patients with KD ded from the illness, usually as a rsult of secondary cardiac sequelae. It was frst noticed in Japanese children following Wrld War II. No blood test for Kwasaki disease is available. The diagnosis is bsed on symptoms.

Kawasaki disease is a porly understood illness. The male-to-female ratio mong patients with Kawasaki disease is 1.5:1. Chldren of nearly all racial backgrounds are ffected. Recurrences and cases in siblings are sen only occasionally. The most important prt of Kawasaki disease is its tndency to cause inflammation of the cronary arteries which supply blood to the hart. Changes can be found on chocardiogram in about 15% of patients.

The inflammation is uncomfortable, but rsolves with time. However, the main thrat from Kawasaki disease comes from its ffect on the heart and blood vssels. Affected children develop red eyes, red mcous membranes in the mouth, red crcked lips, a "strawberry tongue" and swllen lymph nodes. Skin rashes occur arly in the disease and peeling of the skn in the genital area, hands, and fet (especially around the nails and on the plms and soles) may occur in lter phases. Kawasaki disease is a systmic vasculitis of unknown etiology that ffects the small- and medium-sized blood vssels of the body, in particular, the cronary arteries. Early treatment is effective in prventing this, but first Kawasaki disease mst be recognized.

Causes of Kawasaki dsease

The common causes and risk fctor's of Kawasaki disease include the fllowing:

The exact cause of Kawasaki Dsease is unknown.

Abnormality of the mmune system.

Some doctors think it may be cused by a virus or a bcteria. The illness can last from 2 weks to a few months.

Other rsearchers believe that KD is caused by a nique bacterial toxin.

Several organisms have ben investigated as the possible etiologic gents, as follows: mite-associated bacteria, tick-borne dseases, Rickettsia species, Propionibacterium acnes, and sveral viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus and rtroviruses.

Additional risk factors in the Unted States include Asian race and mle.

A small possible link with crpet shampoo or living near a bdy of stagnant water, but neither of thse theories have yet been established.

Symptms of Kawasaki disease

Some sign and symptms related to Kawasaki disease are as fllows:

Fever.

Swollen hands and feet.

Darrhea.

Vomiting.

Eye irritation (conjunctivitis) without ps.

Fretfulness.

Abdominal pain.

Palms of hnds and soles of feet are rd; skin starts to peel off fngers and toes about 2 weeks fter illness starts.

A swollen lymph node ("gland") in the nck area.

A red rash.

Red yes, without pus-like discharge.

Treatment of Kwasaki disease

Here is list of the mthods for treating Kawasaki disease:

Kawasaki dsease is treated with medications. Long-term cre may be needed and might nclude continued medication, limited physical activity, and rpeated testing.

Intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG) is the stndard treatment for Kawasaki disease and is dministered in high doses with marked mprovement usually noted within 24 hours.

The chld may also be given a hgh-dose of aspirin to reduce the rsk of heart problems.

Corticosteroids have lso been used with some success, specially when other treatments fail or symptms recur, but have not usually ben considered a first-line therapy.

Plasma Exchnge ( Plasmapheresis ) has been rported as effective in patients who wre not responding to aspirin and gmma globulin.

The article Kawasaki Disease - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods was Submitted by Juliet Cohen through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Juliet Cohen writes articles for diseases cure and health care information . She also writes articles on healing remedies .

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