preview

Kawasaki Disease Essay

Decent Essays

Whilst studying the current research done on Kawasaki Disease, what was never emphasized was the cause of the disease. The research is heavily focused on the two most common cures along with the diagnostics. Although this is quite helpful, the focus now should be directed towards preventive studies instead of different treatments. Kawasaki disease (KD), also known as Kawasaki syndrome, is an acute febrile illness of unknown etiology that primarily affects children younger than 5 years of age. The disease was first described in Japan by Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, and the first cases outside of Japan were reported in Hawaii in 1976. It is a disease of unknown cause, occurring primarily in young children and giving rise to a rash, glandular swelling, …show more content…

A rash on the mid-section of the body and in the genital area. Red, dry, cracked lips and a red, swollen tongue. Red, swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet. And redness of the eyes. The testing needed to properly diagnose this is to get an echocardiography, a painless test uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart and coronary arteries. Other tests include, an EKG, blood work, and a chest x ray. These tests, the procedure, will take a short amount of time; but to analyze the blood work may take a day or two. Those involved with the examination would be Pediatricians often are the first to suspect a child has Kawasaki disease. Pediatricians specifically. If the disease has affected your child's coronary (heart) arteries, a pediatric cardiologist will confirm the diagnosis and give ongoing treatment. Pediatric cardiologists treat children who have heart problems. Other specialists also may be involved in treating children who have Kawasaki disease. Although, there may not be a sudden conclusive diagnosis because the symptoms overlap with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, scarlet fever, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, the patient must have all (or most) of the beginning symptoms as mentioned …show more content…

According to Medscape, “Aspirin has traditionally been part of the standard treatment of this disorder. Although some authors have suggested that aspirin is no longer needed, most experts use high-dose aspirin for a variable period, followed by lower-dose aspirin for its antiplatelet effects. Aspirin is used in patients with small coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs). Dipyridamole is indicated in patients with larger CAAs,” so aspirin is the more common, usual approach, but in some more severe cases, they use an IV. “The appropriate treatment of patients who fail to respond to IVIG remains unclear. A severe Kawasaki disease that is resistant to IVIG may benefit from intravenous pulse corticosteroid therapy or infliximab infusion,” as Medscape further explains. It’s not as common, but it does treat it with the more severe cases. Treatment will typically start with either the right diagnosis or right as the fever breaks. Less people are involved with the treatment than with the diagnosis. Now, it’s just the pediatrician and family. With the IV fluids, it may still remain in the child’s system for many many years. Thus causing some blood testing to come back “wonky” such as being tested for mono. It may not show up as positive or negative because of what was in the IV bag. The medications won’t affect the patient after the treatment, the only lasting effects may be

Get Access