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Kawasaki disease

Kawasaki disease is a disease in which medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body become inflamed. It is largely seen in children under five years of age. It affects many organ systems, mainly those including the blood vessels, skin, mucous membranes, and lymph nodes. Its rarest but most serious effect is on the heart, where it can cause fatal coronary artery aneurysms in untreated children. Without treatment, mortality may approach 1%, usually within six weeks of onset. With treatment, the mortality rate is 0.17% in the U.S.

Its cause is unknown. Often, a pre-existing viral infection may play a role in its pathogenesis. The skin, the conjunctivae of the eyes, and the mucous membranes of the mouth become red and inflamed. Swelling of the hands and feet is often seen and lymph nodes in the neck are often enlarged. A recurrent fever, often 37.8 °C (100.0 °F) or higher, is characteristic of the acute phase of the disease. In untreated children, the fever lasts about 10 days, but may range from five to 25 days. The disorder was first described in 1967 by Tomisaku Kawasaki in Japan.