Isabella's Kawasaki Disease Story!

Isabella’s Kawasaki Disease Story
On May 16, 2007 I rushed my 4 month old daughter to St. Lukes E.R., it was close to bed time when she started crying non-stop while pushing her knees into her stomach and stiffing up her whole body. She had a fever the whole day and was dismissed as a simple teething fever by her pediatrician, yet once we arrived at the E.R. her increased crying and pain worried me more. As soon as she arrived dozens of doctors and nurses surrounded her taking all types of samples and conducting all sorts of tests including a spinal tap. 2 A.M. came and still no word on what she could have, we were transferred to a room and waited for the results wich all came back negative. The next morning she had finished breast-feeding when she again began stiffing up and pushing her knees unto her stomach, the doctors checked her and concluded she had a condition were her instentines were tangled up and was going to need immediate surgery. We were transferred to California Pacific Medical Center with a scheduled appoinment upon our arrival for an abdominal ultrasound, once it was confirmed that her intestines were tangled up she was supposed to be operated right away, yet the ultrasound showed no sign of that it showed her gallbladder being extremely enlarged and was put on IV fluids since feeding her could cause her gallbladder to burst. We were back to the beginning with no idea what was wrong with her, doctors came in and out with no results and no clue to what she had, on our second evening a doctor came in to inform us she had a "virus" and was going to be observed overnite and released the next morning. It all felt so wrong a "virus" with no name and no treatment nor medicine was going to be given to her since she was so young. The high fevers continued reaching 105 degrees, on the 3rd morning the doctor arrived to discharge her when I showed her a huge rash she had developed overnite all over her chest and back, she checked her, talked to other doctors and said " I think she has Kawasaki disease" I said KAWA WHAT? Kawasaki disease she told me like the motorcycle. A million questions rushed to my mind when I was told this Was she going to be ok? was the first, yes, she said, she explained to me it was a disease that caused inflammation to the heart and body, damage to the heart was possible but since she was diagnosed early the chances were slim. An infectious disease specialist came to see my daughter and concurred with the doctors it was Kawasaki disease, on the 4th night she was given an IVIG treatment, she was observed 24 hours after the treatment was done. By then her tongue was swollen bright red "strawberry toungue" her lips were so cracked dry they bleed to the softest touch, the rash had spread, and she was in extreme pain I felt helpless not being able to help my baby her only comfort was being held which I did day and night. On the 5th night the fevers continued, extremely high, she was given motrin, yet it only kept it down for a few hours, new test showed she had a few damage to her liver due to so much motrin so they started her on aspirin. A second IVIG treatment was started on the 5th night, a few hours into it I felt water on her arm and found the needle had fallen out from her tiny hand and the IVIG treatment had been leaking out, the nurse had to stop the treatment for the doctors to put a new needle and treatment in. Hours later close to the 6th day the treatment was started again, once it was done she was again observed for 24 hours, my baby was slowly coming back to herself she was playing again and slowly began drinking pedyalite. She was observed on the 7th day through the 8th day of her stay and on the 8th night the fevers had return, high again. A 3rd treatment was going to be started on the 9th day, all she did was sleep in my arms, she was checked and was found that her gallbladder was slowly returning to its size and the rash was dissapearng so they couldnt understand why the fevers persisted, a bright doctor checked her ears and found she had an ear infection as well that had developed along with a cold she caught at the hospital. We were relieved, still she was observed overnite and we would be released the next morning. She was released on the 10th day :) she was given an antibiotic for the ear infection, the fevers had gone down, the rash was gone, she had two echocardiograms done during her stay which found no murmurs or aneurysms on her heart, she was going to be fine. She was given aspirin for 2 and a half months yet was cut down to a month on her follow up cardio appoinment which again found no damage to her heart. A week after she was released the skin of her fingertips and toes began to peel off. A year later she had an abdominal ultrasound done that showed her gallbladder was back to its normal size. The worst feeling in the world is seeing your child in pain and being so helpless not being able to do anything for them, I am so grateful to all the doctors at California Pacific Medical Center who treated my daughter who diagnosed her correctly and soon enough. Isabella is 22 months old now, she loves swimming, dancing, Dora the Explorer and going to the park, she is my strong Kawasaki baby!

CRASH AND BURN

CRASH AND BURN (a simplified form of detecting Kawasaki Disease symptoms)
C-CONJUNCTIVITIS (EXTREMELY RED EYES)
R- RASH (ON BODY)
A- ARTHRITIS ( JOINT PAIN)
S- STRAWBERRY TONGUE (RED, SWOLLEN TONGUE)
H- HANDS (SKIN PEELING)
AND
BURN- UNCONTROLLED HIGH FEVER PERSISTING LONGER THAN 5 DAYSTHE CRASH AND BURN IS A SIMPLIFIED FORM OF DETERMINING THE SYMPTOMS OF KAWASAKI DISEASE.

Understanding Kawasaki Disease

Understanding Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki Disease is an acute vasculitis (disorder involving inflammation of one or more blood vessels) which typically affects young children. Most often, the patients are young boys or girls in the first three years of life. After the age of 10 years, Kawasaki Disease is extremely rare, and the diagnosis should be regarded with suspicion.
Symptoms
The disease usually begins with a fever, unresponsive to Tylenol or aspirin, which continues for at least 7 - 10 days. Many - but not all - children develop a swollen area on the neck which looks like an infection. Doctors usually recognize the disease when they see an unresponsive fever accompanied by a rash; dry, cracked lips or other changes of the mouth or tongue; inflamed eyes (conjunctivitis); and arthritis or heart changes without other explanation.
The most important part of Kawasaki disease is its tendency to cause inflammation of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. Changes can be found on echocardiogram in about 15% of patients. A few of these patients will have aneurysms (balloon-like dilatations) that can be very serious. If one of the aneurysms becomes blocked or bursts, the blood flow to the heart is interrupted and the child can have a heart attack. Fortunately, this is very rare, and deaths due to Kawasaki disease are less than 5/1000.
Treatment
Treatment for Kawasaki disease is intravenous (IV) gammaglobulin. Large doses of intravenous gammaglobulin are usually very effective in stopping the fever of Kawasaki disease and seem to limit or prevent aneurysm formation as well. It is very rare for a child not to improve with gammaglobulin. Although some children require two treatments, if there is no improvement, the diagnosis should be reconsidered.
Other diseases can be confused with Kawasaki disease, which may require different therapy. Some doctors are reluctant to give gammaglobulin if the symptoms have been present for more than 10 days. In truth, gammaglobulin is still effective after the first 10 days, but the likelihood of preventing aneurysms is lower than if it is given during the first ten days. Recent studies have shown that corticosteroids are effective for many of the children who fail to respond appropriately to gammaglobulin.
Once the acute inflammation is brought under control, the chronic symptoms of Kawasaki disease are usually controlled with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like naproxen or ibuprofen. Many cardiologists and some rheumatologists still use aspirin, but the other nonsteroidal drugs are considered safer, easier to give, and equally effective.
Where does Kawasaki Disease come from?
The etiology (origin) of Kawasaki disease is unknown. There have been many theories, but there are none that are generally accepted. It is not contagious to other children, although there are a few cases of brothers and sisters developing the disease. In rare cases, a few children have had two episodes. The disease often occurs in epidemics that occur every few years. In the winter of 2002, for example, the author received an increased influx of inquiries about the disease.
Recovery
Usually, children recover completely with proper therapy. There is some concern that children with damaged coronary arteries will have problems later in life, but this seems to be very rare. If your child has Kawasaki disease, he will need to be followed by his primary doctor, a cardiologist, and perhaps a rheumatologist or other specialist (depending on the symptoms).
The vast majority of children with Kawasaki disease recover and resume normal lives. Your doctor should be able to tell you if there is any reason to be unusually concerned. If your child has not recovered appropriately after an episode of Kawasaki disease, it is important to be sure that the diagnosis is right and that another disease requiring different therapy has not been missed. A pediatric rheumatologist is the specialist best able to do this for you.

What Is Kawasaki Disease!

What is Kawasaki Disease?
Kawasaki disease is an illness that involves the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes, and most often affects kids under age 5. The cause is unknown, but if the symptoms are recognized early, kids with Kawasaki disease can fully recover within a few days. Untreated, it can lead to serious complications that can affect the heart.
Kawasaki disease occurs in 19 out of every 100,000 kids in the United States. It is most common among children of Japanese and Korean descent, but can affect all ethnic groups.
Signs and Symptoms
Kawasaki disease can't be prevented, but usually has telltale symptoms and signs that appear in phases.
The first phase, which can last for up to 2 weeks, usually involves a persistent fever higher than 104° Fahrenheit (39° Celsius) and lasts for at least 5 days.
Other symptoms that typically develop include:
severe redness in the eyes
a rash on the stomach, chest, and genitals
red, dry, cracked lips
swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps
sore, irritated throat
swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet with a purple-red color
swollen lymph nodes
During the second phase, which usually begins within 2 weeks of when the fever started, the skin on the hands and feet may begin to peel in large pieces. The child also may experience joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. If your child shows any of these symptoms, call your doctor.
Complications
Doctors can manage the symptoms of Kawasaki disease if they catch it early. Symptoms often disappear within just 2 days of the start of treatment. If Kawasaki disease is treated within 10 days of the onset of symptoms, heart problems usually do not develop.
Cases that go untreated can lead to more serious complications, such as vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels. This can be particularly dangerous because it can affect the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
In addition to the coronary arteries, the heart muscle, lining, valves, and the outer membrane that surrounds the heart can become inflamed. Arrhythmias (changes in the normal pattern of the heartbeat) or abnormal functioning of some heart valves also can occur.
Diagnosis
No one test can detect Kawasaki disease, so doctors usually diagnose it by evaluating the symptoms and ruling out other conditions.
Most kids diagnosed with Kawasaki disease will have a fever lasting 5 or more days and at least four of these symptoms:
redness in both eyes
changes around the lips, tongue, or mouth
changes in the fingers and toes, such as swelling, discoloration, or peeling
a rash in the trunk or genital area
a large swollen lymph node in the neck
red, swollen palms of hands and soles of feet
If Kawasaki disease is suspected, the doctor may order tests to monitor heart function (such as an echocardiogram) and might take blood and urine samples to rule out other conditions, such as scarlet fever, measles, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or an allergic drug reaction.
Treatment
Treatment should begin as soon as possible, ideally within 10 days of when the fever begins. Usually, a child is treated with intravenous doses of gamma globulin (purified antibodies), an ingredient of blood that helps the body fight infection. The child also might be given a high dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart problems.

Aspirin and Kawasaki Disease

Aspirin: The Wonder Drug
Aspirin: The Wonder Drug
Aspirin (medically known as acetylsalicylic acid) is a common household medication for pain (analgesic), fever (antipyretic), and inflammation (anti-inflammatory). This "simple" and inexpensive drug is so much underrated and practically taken for granted. Aspirin is really a versatile drug, with a lot of uses, much more than the lay public realizes. Inn the United States alone about 20 tons of aspirin is used each year.
How did aspirin come about?
In 1827, Leroux of France first discovered salicin, an active ingredient in the willow bark, and in 1838, Piria produced salicylic acid from salicin. In 1899, Dreser introduced acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) into medicine. This has been in popular use since then.
Why is aspirin a Wonder Drug?
Aspirin was a labeled a Miracle Drug or a Wonder Drug when it was first introduced more than 100 years ago, and continues to deserve such a prestigious position in the physician's armamentarium because of its versatility. Other Miracle or Wonder Drugs when they were first introduced include Penicillin, Steroids, Chemo-therapeutic Agents for cancers, and lately, Viagra, for male erectile dysfunction.
How is aspirin versatile?
Besides being used as an analgesic for pain of various causes (headaches, body aches, arthritis, dysmenorrhea, neuralgia,gout, etc), and for febrile states, aspirin is also useful in the treatment of rheumatic disease, and as an anti-platelet (to thin the blood and prevent blood clots) in coronary (heart) artery and in the deep veins in the legs and pelvis. There have also been articles written in the medical literature postulating reduction in the incidence of colon cancer among those people regularly taking aspirin at a certain dose. Many physicians and patients today take low-dose aspirin (baby aspirin or 81 mg.) daily to reduce the chances of getting a heart attack and stroke by its anti-platelet (blood thinning) action.
Are there other known uses for aspirin?
Aspirin has also been used with success in the treatment of children with Bartter's Syndrome, and also in enhancing the closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus, an abnormal connection between the aorta (main artery connected to the heart) and the pulmonary artery (to the lungs) in the newborn. If the PDA does not close normally, surgery may be needed to ligate it (close with sutures) before the child starts school.
Is coated aspirin less irritating to the stomach?
Yes, enteric-coated aspirin is much less irritating to the stomach, since the coating allows the aspirin tablet to remain almost intact while in the stomach and travel to the small intestine where the coating and the aspirin dissolve and get absorbed into the blood stream. This minimizes stomach ulcers but does not totally prevent them. Buffered aspirin (one that has anti-acid) also lessens stomach irritation. The bleeding from aspirin ingestion could be serious. This is why anyone interested in taking aspirin must consult a physician before actually taking it.
Why is aspirin being prescribed for heart attack and stroke prevention?
Aspirin, as we stated earlier, thins the blood by preventing platelet aggregation. Platelets are blood component that plays a role in blood thickening or clot formation. When they aggregate (clump together) blood thickens and clots form. Clots tend to clog arteries and veins. When arteries to the heart (coronary) get severely blocked by clots, heart attack occurs, and when this clogging happens to the arteries to the brain, stroke happens. As simple as aspirin, this wonder drug, plays a very vital role in these conditions, together with a change in lifestyle (no smoking, low cholesterol diet, regular exercises, etc.) to maintain a thinner blood condition.
Is aspirin safe for children?
Pediatricians all over the world have for almost 3 decades discontinued prescribing aspirin for children for pain and fever, because aspirin has been implicated in the occurrence of Reye's Syndrome in children following a viral (upper respiratory or gastrointestinal) infection, which syndrome could be fatal. For fever or pain, physicians now prefer to prescribe acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or Ibuprofen, but for some specific illnesses (like Kawasaki Disease, Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc.) aspirin is still being used effectively by Pediatricians.
Is aspirin safe for adults who self-medicate?
While occasionally taking two tablets of aspirin for ordinary headache or muscle aches and pains is fairly safe (unless one has a stomach ulcer or a history of ulcer, or is on blood thinner), taking aspirin on a long term basis for prophylaxis or for any condition should only be done under the supervision of a physician.

Jett Travolta and Kawasaki Disease!

Jett Travolta (John Travolta’s Son) and Kawasaki Disease

A Closer Look at What Ailed Jett Travolta
Fri., Jan. 2, 2009 4:55 PM PST by Natalie Finn
Lucky Mat/Getty Images
Kelly Preston has said that she believes toxic cleaning products in her family's home caused her son's health problems early in life.
Jett, her 16-year-old son with husband John Travolta, died suddenly Friday morning after suffering a seizure while on vacation with his familiy in the Bahamas. He was hospitalized when he was 15 months old with Kawasaki disease, a rare illness that mainly affects young children. It's treatable but can have unforeseen complications, including lasting damage to the heart.
The boy's body will remain at Rand Memorial Hospital in the Bahamas pending an autopsy.
The direct cause of Kawasaki disease remains unknown, but some studies have shown a possible link between the disease and exposure to carpet-cleaning chemicals or living in an area close to a stagnant body of water, according to research gathered by Children's Hospital Boston's Kawasaki Disease Program.
Studies also found that the disease is reported more frequently among children from higher socioeconomic groups, of which Jett Travolta was certainly a member. (Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys announced last month that his 6-year-old son, Baylee, has been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease.)
In 2002, Preston described to Montel Williams what the family went through when Jett got sick.
"Jett's whole immune system shut down, and he got really sick with high fevers, 104 and 105," she said. "I kept taking him into the doctor and they didn't know what was wrong with him. He developed a rash on his body, swollen lymph glands—it was horrible."
Doctors at Children's Hospital Los Angeles ultimately diagnosed Jett with Kawasaki disease.
"And lo and behold, they don't know how you acquire it, and lo and behold, there were tons of kids in the ICU with Kawasaki's," Preston said. "I'd never even heard of it. And they give you a questionnaire with about 50 questions on it. I went and talked to everybody— every single parent—and everyone had cleaned their carpets in the last couple of weeks. That was one of the questions. So I don't know what the correlation is...I'm just saying we need to know more."
Because of Jett's asthma and allergies, Preston told Williams, "We don't have any chemicals in the house. We're 90 percent organic, though there's some canned foods, a little bit of junk food here and there."
Also in 2002, Preston taped a helpful-hints video for The Oprah Winfrey Show, suggesting ways to childproof the cleaning products in the home.
"When I learned I was pregnant [with now 8-year-old Ella Bleu], the first thing I wanted to do was to create the perfect place to bring my baby home to," Preston said.
"I had all of this nesting energy. I'm sure you know that feeling. But sometimes when we think we are doing the right thing, like scrubbing the nursery spotless, even cleaning the carpet, we are actually inviting dangerous chemicals into our baby's world. Even what these chemicals leave behind can cause problems, so hold off on using so many cleaners."
The Children's Health Environmental Coalition has also recommended that children stay out of a house where the carpet has just been cleaned for at least four hours.
The debate over the exact cause of Kawasaki disease continues, and recent theories have focused on possible bacterial causes and whether children can have a genetic predisposition for infection.
"There is something about the act of shampooing that indirectly caused the outbreak," Dr. David Morens, an epidemiologist at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Md., told the Austin American-Statesman in 2006.
"It had nothing to do with the chemicals in the shampoo or rug fibers, but more likely with bacteria released into the air. There are whole ecosystems in a carpet...bacteria, spores and fungi that live and grow there."
While common symptoms include a high fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes, cardiac complications can include inflammation of blood vessels in the coronary arteries, aneurysms and, in some cases, heart attacks.
Seizures have also been linked to Kawasaki, according to Aetna's InteliHealth site.
In June 2007, Travolta's legal camp fired back at rumors that the actor and his wife were refusing to publicly admit that Jett had autism and covering it up by claiming the boy had Kawasaki disease instead.
"The Travoltas are wonderful, loving parents, and their priority is their children," a Travolta attorney said. "They have and they continue to take the best possible care of their children. To suggest anything to the contrary is very hurtful to a loving family and also would be false and defamatory."

Baylee Littrell and Kawasaki Disease!

Backstreet Brian Littrell’s Boy Has Kawasaki Disease December 2008
Backstreet Brian Littrell's Boy Has Coronary Disease
Mon., Dec. 22, 2008 11:17 AM PST by Breanne L. Heldman
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell has been dealing with a larger than life situation recently.
The boy bander and his wife Leighanne's 6-year-old son, Baylee, spent the past week at the Scottish Rite children's hospital in Atlanta. He was released Saturday after being diagnosed with atypical Kawasaki disease, according to the singer's website. Baylee entered the care center with a variety of symptoms, including strep throat, erythema multiforme and hand, foot and mouth disease.
"After receiving a biopsy, blood tests, an EKG and two echocardiograms, Baylee was finally diagnosed with A-Typical [sic] Kawasaki Disease," Littrell writes. "We would like to stress A-Typical because Baylee did not have textbook symptoms of any of the viruses they thought he had.
"Kawasaki Disease causes inflammation in the coronary arteries as well as the walls of the small and medium sized arteries throughout the body," Littrell explains. "Unfortunately, Baylee's coronary arteries were affected. He received an IVIG, which is a treatment to bring down the inflammation in his coronary arteries."
A pediatric cardiologist will be keeping a close eye on the singer's son for the next six to eight weeks to ensure the treatment was effective.
According to Wikipedia's entry on Kawasaki disease, "with early treatment, rapid recovery from acute symptoms can be expected and the risk of coronary artery aneurysms greatly reduced."
"We want to thank everyone who prayed for us as well as all of the emails and phone calls," the Littrells write. "We are humbled by the love and compassion that people have for our son all over the world, thank you!"
(Originally published Dec. 22, 2008 at 9:52 a.m

KD WEBSITES

KD Links (kdfoundation.org)
..
KD Links


..
..
FamilyKD Discussion Forum - An independently hosted and managed KD discussion forum free of advertising and pop-up messages.A Kawasaki Heart - A web site and message board of a teenager who had KD twice.KawasakiDisease.co.uk -The web site of a young boy in the UK who had KD in March 2005.Kawasaki Disease Foundation of South Africa - An organization started by a KD parent in South Africa.Kawasaki Disease Fund at Children's Memorial Hospital - A coalition of parents and medical professionals dedicated to raising funds for Kawasaki disease research at Children's Memorial Hospital.Kawasaki Disease Canada - A parent group dedicated to advancing KD awareness throughout Canada.Kawasaki Disease Foundation AustraliaErin's WorldMedicalUCSD KD Program - A very informative site with an overview, parent guide, photographs, and multi-language fact sheets. Find out about research being conducted at the University of California San Diego. Participants in important promising studies are urgently needed.Kawasaki Disease, A Brief History - A unique article about the history of Kawasaki Disease published in Pediatrics.American Heart Association - Visit the AHA web site and search for "Kawasaki Disease" to find other very informative articles.Recurrent skin peeling following Kawasaki Disease, ADC - An article about skin peeling from Kawasaki Disease.The Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - A good overview for parents whose children have been recently diagnosed.Carpet Cleaners and Kawasaki Disease - An article about Kawasaki Disease by the Children's Health Environmental Coalition.MayoClinic.com - A comprehensive overview of Kawasaki disease including symptoms, causes, treatment, and coping skills.Kawasaki Disease Research Project - A historical analysis of Kawasaki Disease jointly led by teams from Emory University and the University of California San Diego.ResearchKD Research Project - A joint research project of the Kawasaki Disease Foundation, University of California San Diego, and Emory University

Travolta opens charity in memory of dead son

Travolta opens charity in memory of dead son
Travolta opens charity in memory of dead son
METRO NEWS SERVICES
February 24, 2009 John Travolta has launched a charity in memory of his dead son, femalefirst.co.uk reports. The Hollywood actor and his wife Kelly Preston — whose 16-year-old son Jett died from a seizure in January — have created the Jett Travolta Foundation to help children with medical and emotional needs.The 55-year-old star’s official website says: “The Foundation shall endeavour to use its resources specifically to assist and provide relief to children with vision, hearing, mobility, communication, behaviour learning impairments or other special medical, environmental, health or educational needs.”Jett was found lying motionless in a bathtub on Jan. 2 at his family’s Bahamas hotel. The teenager had a history of fits and it is believed he experienced a seizure and fell and hit his head.He was found by a caretaker and immediately rushed to a hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Jett was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease when he was two.

KD Celebrity

Odd names, diseases top celebrity news stories- Kawasaki Disease
NEAHRING COLUMN: Odd names, diseases top celebrity news stories
When the children of celebrities make the news, it is usually a brief story about the bizarre name their parents have chosen for them. I think it started in the seventies, when musician Frank Zappa named his children Dweezil, Moon Unit, Ahmet, and Diva Thin Muffin Zappa. The practice has continued to this day with baby names like Apple, Bluebell, and Shiloh making the celebrity gossip pages.
In a fleeting moment of trendiness, I briefly considered the monikers Beavis and Pinecone before naming my son Daniel, but relented since I am not rich or famous enough to pay for a lifetime of therapy. Recently, however, two stories about celebrity children caught my attention for a different reason both boys had been diagnosed with a disorder called Kawasaki disease.Kawasaki disease is a serious yet treatable illness that results in multiple symptoms, including inflammation of the blood vessels. It is more common in children of Japanese and Korean descent although all ethnic groups are susceptible. It is more likely to affect boys and children younger than five and is seen more often in the winter months.The exact cause of Kawasaki disease is unknown. Many experts suspect that an infectious agent such as a bacteria or a virus is responsible, although fortunately the disease does not seem to be contagious. Recent research indicates that genetics appears to play a role as well. Some studies have demonstrated an association between Kawasaki disease and exposure to carpet cleaners or other chemicals, but a true cause-and-effect relationship has never been conclusively proven.The hallmark sign of Kawasaki disease is high fever that lasts for at least five days, usually accompanied by extreme irritability. There is no specific test for Kawasaki disease, but to confirm the diagnosis of a classic/typical case at least four out of these five signs must be present: bilateral red eyes without drainage, significantly swollen lymph glands in the neck, rash covering all or some of the body, red cracked lips with a red swollen "strawberry" tongue, or swelling and redness of the hands and feet with cracking and peeling on the palms and soles. If fewer signs are present, your child's doctor may make the diagnosis of atypical Kawasaki disease.Kawasaki disease causes inflammation of the blood vessels and can affect the heart and coronary arteries. Your child's doctor will order an echocardiogram (cardiac ultrasound) to look for coronary artery aneurysms; weak, dilated areas of the arteries which can lead to further heart trouble.About a quarter of children with Kawasaki disease who are not treated develop aneurysms, but less than five percent of children who receive appropriate treatment will go on to have cardiac problems. Other long term consequences, like arthritis, are rare, and there is no evidence to support a link between Kawasaki disease and seizure disorders or developmental conditions such as autism.The mainstay of treatment for Kawasaki disease is intravenous gamma globulin, preferably given within ten days of the onset of fever. Aspirin is usually given as well for its anti-inflammatory and anticlotting properties. (While aspirin is perfectly appropriate for the treatment of Kawasaki disease, never give aspirin to your child unless it has been prescribed by a doctor.)The majority of children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease (including those with initial cardiac findings) can expect to make a full recovery. However, your doctor will want to monitor your child's heart closely even after the original symptoms have passed to ensure that everything is flowing smoothly. Scientists are continually learning more about Kawasaki disease, so hopefully one day it will be preventable as well as treatable.Dr. Betsy Neahring practiced pediatrics in Evansville for 10 years before (mostly) retiring to become "Daniel's Mom." Write to her at drbetsyneahring@aol.com.

Cause of KD remains a mystery

Cause of Kawasaki disease remains a mystery
Cause of Kawasaki disease remains a mystery
Recent evidence suggests an infectious agent, although to date no organism has been found
Monday, February 02, 2009
Staten Island AdvanceSTATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limited disease of unknown cause that has a tendency to affect the coronary arteries (the arteries supplying the heart). It predominantly affects infants and children. Kawasaki disease is an illness that involves the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes. It is associated with high fevers that last for five or more days.
The disease was first described in Japan in 1967 by Tomisaku Kawasaki; it is now known to occur in the Americas, Europe, and Asia in children of all races. Kawasaki disease is markedly more common in Japan and children of Japanese ethnicity, having an annual incidence of 150 cases per 100,000 children younger than 5 years of age. Recurrence rates approach 3 percent. About 1 percent of those with the disease have a family history. The risk of occurrence in twins is approximately 13 percent. These statistics suggest that genetic predisposition may play a role in who gets the disease. The cause of Kawasaki disease remains a mystery. All the recent evidence suggests an infectious agent, although to date no organism has been found. This disease occurs in phases. The first phase, which can last for up to two weeks, usually involves a persistent fever higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit and lasts for at least five days. The second phase occurs two weeks after the fever begins, and the skin of the hands and feet may begin to peel in large pieces. The child may also experience joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Kawasaki disease is a generalized inflammation of blood vessels, affecting all blood vessels throughout the body, but preferentially affects the coronary arteries. DIAGNOSITC CRITERIA
Cause of Kawasaki disease remains a mystery - Page 2
Recent evidence suggests an infectious agent, although to date no organism has been foundThe diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease requires fever for at least five days; and four of the five following criteria: Bilateral Conjunctiva injection (blood-shot eyes). Changes of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract: red pharynx, fissured or cracked lips, strawberry appearing tongue. Rash. Changes to the extremities (swelling, redness, skin peeling). Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck region. A sonogram (echocardiogram) is done as soon as the diagnosis is entertained to rule out any inflammation of the heart and to check for aneurysm formation of the coronary arteries. It is then done periodically to monitor the condition. If suspected of having this disease, treatment is started immediately with aspirin, and intravenous immunoglobulin. These both have anti-inflammatory effects. The sooner these medications are started, the less likely complications may occur. If a child is diagnosed with an aneurysm, aspirin is continued indefinitely to prevent rupture of the aneurysm or clot formation. Coronary artery aneurysms occur in 20 to 25 percent of untreated children. Resolution of aneurysms occurs in one to two years for approximately 50 percent of patients. Myocardial infarction (heart attack) caused by a clot in an abnormal coronary artery is the principal cause of death. The greatest risk occurs in the first year after diagnosis. INCOMPLETE FORM Recent evidence suggests there may be an incomplete form of Kawasaki disease occurring in some individuals. Some patients do not fulfill the clinical criteria for the disease and are diagnosed based on echocardiographic findings of coronary artery anomalies. Therefore, strict adherence to the diagnostic criteria may in fact miss some cases. So when should incomplete Kawasaki disease be considered? If a child has unexplained fever for five or more days associated with two or three of the diagnostic criteria mentioned above. Other diseases that may present in a similar manor include: measles, strep throat and drug hypersensitivity reactions. Kawasaki disease can be quite devastating. It is imperative to seek medical attention as soon as possible, as the earlier it is diagnosed the better the outcome. This column is provided by the Richmond County Medical Society. Dr. Messo is the immediate past president of Society. He maintains a private practice in Eltingville and is director of internal medicine/pediatric education at Richmond University Medical Center and an adjunct clinical professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem.

Was KD the cause of death for Jett Travolta?

Dr. Tom Smith answers your questions www.guardian.co.uk
We were distressed to learn of the death of John Travolta's son from a seizure, because our son also had Kawasaki disease when he was a toddler. Was there a link between Kawasaki and subsequent epilepsy? Our son got the all-clear after a year, and is now a healthy 10-year-old.Please don't worry about your son. Kawasaki is an acute reaction in the circulation and heart, probably to an unknown virus. While it's true that some sufferers go on to develop heart problems, if your son had no after-effects all those years ago, then he has recovered completely. Jett Travolta's case was very unusual, if not unique, and the epilepsy he suffered may not be linked to his Kawasaki. We may not have heard the whole story, either, and press reports about the cause of his death are speculation that is not relevant to any other child

The Littrell Foundation

The Littrell family~ http://brianlittrell.com.
1/20/09
The Littrell family
The Littrell family will be appearing on the TV show The Doctors THIS Thursday, January 22nd to talk about Baylee and Kawasaki Syndrome. Check your local listings for showtimes
12/21/08
Update on Baylee
On Saturday December 20, 2008, Baylee T W Littrell was released from Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta.Before being admitted Baylee had been treated for or thought to have had strep throat, hand, foot, mouth disease and erythema multiforme. After receiving a biopsy, blood tests, an EKG and 2 echocardiograms, Baylee was finally diagnosed with A-Typical Kawasaki Disease. We would like to stress A-Typical because Baylee did not have text book symptoms of any of the viruses they thought he had. Kawasaki Disease causes inflammation in the coronary arteries as well as the walls of the small and medium sized arteries throughout the body. Unfortunately, Baylee's coronary arteries were affected. He received an IVIG, which is a treatment to bring down the inflammation in his coronary arteries. Baylee will be closely monitored for the next 6-8 weeks by a Pediatric Cardiologist to see if the treatment was effective. We want to thank every one who prayed for us as well as all of the emails and phone calls. Your love and support means so much to our family. The Hospital Staff were absolutely amazing. They made an extremely difficult time in our lives as comfortable as possible.We are humbled by the love and compassion that people have for our son all over the world, thank you!Brian and Leighanne Littrell
12/18/08
Baylee Littrell
For those of you who do not know or have not heard, Baylee Litrell has been in the hospital for the past few days. He will be starting a treatment this afternoon and the Littrell family asks that all Backstreet Boys fans please remember him in prayer during this trying time. Every little prayer helps and every single prayer counts! Brian and Leighanne would also like to wish you all Happy Holidays and thank for your thoughts and prayers....More information will follow and we will definitely keep you all updated.....

Gemma didn't have to die

Gemma didn't have to die
Gemma didn't have to die..
Heartbreak ... Jasmine, left, with her twin Gemma, right, who died last month of heart failure after acquiring Kawasaki disease, and their older sister Amber. Gemma's parents say her condition was not diagnosed.Photo: Brockwell Perks
Louise Hall Health Reporter April 20, 2008EVERY day Katey Locock looks at her baby daughter Jasmine and her heart breaks. Seven months ago Mrs Locock and her husband, Gayvn, were overjoyed at the birth of Jasmine and her twin Gemma, sisters for two-year-old Amber.But last month Gemma died of heart failure after acquiring Kawasaki disease, an inflammatory condition, which can be treated simply if detected.The Lococks say doctors at John Hunter Children's Hospital in Newcastle failed to diagnose the condition, despite telltale symptoms - and they want to know why."Every time we do something for Jasmine we know we should be doing it for Gemma as well. It breaks our hearts," Mrs Locock said.Jasmine knows something's wrong. She has not been the same since her sister died, her parents say.Gemma spent four days in hospital after she became ill with what her parents say were distinctive symptoms of Kawasaki disease, including a persistent high fever for more than five days, severe rash, red lips, red eyes and peeling skin on her hands and feet.Her parents say they were told to take their daughter home. Six weeks later she died."The doctors kept saying it was a mystery and just gave her Panadol. They only ever ran one blood test," Mrs Locock said from her Belmont home."But she had at least four symptoms [of Kawasaki disease]. If they had done their job properly, Gemma would still be with us today."Kawasaki disease, an uncommon illness that mostly affects children under five, causes inflammation of small blood vessels known as vasculitis.In extreme cases the coronary arteries swell, which can block the blood supply to the heart.Most children recover after receiving a simple intravenous drip of gammaglobulin - an ingredient of the blood that helps fight infection - and a high dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart damage.The Lococks say doctors failed to order an echocardiogram, which would have shown the heart damage.Mrs Locock also made two visits to the family GP, which resulted only in a prescription for reflux medication.On March 16, Gemma began having breathing difficulties and within two hours she was dead."It was such a shock, it all happened so fast," Mrs Locock said.The day after Gemma's death, Jasmine and Amber were summoned to the hospital for blood tests. When Jasmine's test showed abnormalities, the Lococks say they were forced to wait another day for her echocardiogram because no one was available to do it."We'd already lost one baby and time was crucial but they still made us wait," Mrs Locock said.Jasmine was eventually given the gammaglobulin drip as a precaution and is healthy.Gemma's great-grandfather, Terry McCormack, said her death had "devastated our family".He has launched a blog - http://www.macterry.blogspot.com - inviting parents who have had "unsatisfactory dealings" with the John Hunter Children's Hospital to contact him."This is a devastating situation and we understand and share the grief that the family is experiencing," the hospital said in a statement on Friday.It said Gemma displayed only one clinical feature - skin rash."It would be extremely difficult for any doctor to diagnose Kawasaki disease solely by the presence of a skin rash in the absence of the other signs of the condition," it said.The hospital said the Locock family had been invited to meet senior doctors once the final post-mortem examination report was completed.lhall@fairfaxmedia.com.au

A world of genetic research

A world of genetic research
A world of genetic research
Last Updated: March 11. 2009 1:12AM UAE / March 10. 2009 9:12PM GMT..
The death of Jett Travolta, third from left, brought the rare childhoodcondition known as Kawasaki disease to the attention of the public. APKawasakidisease, a rare autoimmune illness that mostly affects young children,was in the news recently in two different stories. In the first case,the disease was linked with Jett Travolta, son of the actor JohnTravolta. Jett died on Jan 2 after he had a seizure. He had apparentlybeen ill for some time and his parents said he had Kawasaki disease.Itbrought the condition to the attention of the public, and was followedby news of research in Australia into how the disease behaves.ProfDavid Burgner from the University of Western Australia co-led a teamthat studied the entire human genome in an attempt to find new genesinvolved in making some children more susceptible to the disease. Itwas first described by Dr Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967, and although thecondition is treatable, little has been learnt since about its causes.Itpresents itself as an inflammatory condition. It affects several organsincluding the mucus membranes, the walls of blood vessels and lymphnodes. Its many symptoms include fever, rashes, swollen feet and hands,conjunctivitis and swollen lymph nodes. Children aged six months tofive years seem particularly susceptible. It can be fatal, but only onein 1,000 cases result in death. Although it is rare, Prof Burgnerexplained why it was important to tackle the illness.“Kawasakidisease is an important and serious illness of preschool children,” hesaid. “Importantly it is the only childhood illness that damages thecoronary arteries, in one quarter of untreated children and five to 10per cent of treated children. This coronary damage may have long-termhealth implications, including death, angina and heart attacks inchildhood and the need for coronary bypass surgery and even, rarely,heart transplant in childhood.”In the research study ProfBurgner’s team considered genetic variation among 900 cases of thedisease found in children from the US, Singapore, the Netherlands, theUK and Australia. The findings identified genes that may increase thesusceptibility of some children to the disease, but further research isneeded.“Kawasaki disease is thought to be an abnormalimmunological reaction to an unknown infectious trigger. There is astrong genetic component, so genes are important in determiningsusceptibility, as we believe all children are likely to be exposed tothe trigger,” Prof Burgner said.“Our study is the firstpublished that has investigated the entire human genome looking forimportant associated genes; most studies focus on a few candidategenes. We have identified at least eight new genes that have notpreviously been described in Kawasaki disease and some of them seem tofunction together. Some of the genes are involved in cardiovascularhealth – the function of blood vessels and in control of the immunesystem.”Identifying eight genes expands the scope of futureresearch considerably. However, studying the entire human genome is notthe biggest problem facing the researchers.“The main issue isrecruiting enough cases of Kawasaki disease, which is why we embarkedon an international study. Ideally we need up to 5,000 cases to covermore of the human genome and find more of the important genes. We werevery lucky to work with the Genome Institute of Singapore, who are oneof the top genomics facilities in the world – this made the actualgenetic laboratory work and analysis possible.”Dr BrianMcCrindle, a cardiologist from the Hospital for Sick Children inToronto, Canada, gave a talk on Kawasaki disease at the Arab HealthCongress in Dubai in January. He believes the new findings offerpotential for future research.“The research is very preliminaryand needs to be verified in other people’s work, but there are somepromising leads,” he said. “Kawasaki disease can look like otherdiseases and sometimes it doesn’t have typical presentation,” he said.Raisingawareness is vital because the disease can be misdiagnosed, butdeveloping a cure for any rare disease is difficult. However, ProfBurgner believes the identification of eight new genes will help withthe treatment process.“We hope that our work will contribute tothe development of a diagnostic test and better treatment within thenext few years, but we are not there yet,” he said.“At themoment doctors make a clinical diagnosis, based on the rash, fever etcetera, and there is no blood test that really helps. We urgently needa diagnostic test so children are treated earlier and Kawasaki diseaseis not missed, so reducing the long-term heart problems.”Findinga cure remains a possibility, though. “In Japan, for example, where onein 150 children suffer KD, it may be realistic to develop a vaccine,especially if Kawasaki disease increases the risk of atherosclerosis inlater life – this is an unknown area at present,” Prof Burgner said.Healso believes that the method used in his research of analysing theentire human genome will be adopted as the way forward in studyingother infectious diseases.“Genes are known to be important indetermining susceptibility to infection so it is a proven and excitingmethod to try and identify the important genes that make people more orless likely to get infection and once they have it, more or less likelyto survive. This should lead to better prevention and treatment. Isuspect tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis B and C and malaria will be thelikely diseases that we will see these sorts of studies in very soon,”he said.For the moment, however, Prof Burgner is keen tocontinue to develop the research path he is pursuing with Kawasakidisease. There is also the possibility of collaborating with medicalprofessionals in the Middle East. “We are expanding thecollaborative genetics group to include Asian and other populations,aiming to work together as a scientific community to crack thismysterious disease. We would very much like to hear from anyone in yourregion who has an interest in Kawasaki disease and sees many patients,”he said.Peter Donnelly is a science correspondent for the life science division at IIR Middle East

Rise of the clean freaks

Rise of the clean freaks
Rise of the clean freaksBy Clair Weaver
March 15, 2009 12:00am
IS obsessing about cleanliness causing disease instead of preventing it?
Every day we are bombarded with advertisements for anti-bacterial products that promise to kill 99.9 per cent of germs.Perky TV mums reassure us these sprays, gels and wipes will keep our homes sparkling clean and protect our families from harmful bugs.Because no one wants to be exposed to nasty germs, right? It may not, however, be that simple. Scientists are concerned that our 21st-century obsession with cleanliness may be backfiring.Allergies and auto-immune disorders are on the rise among Australians. Meanwhile, new breeds of uber-bacteria that are resistant to disinfectants and drugs are emerging. Hygiene hypothesisThe issue was thrust under the international spotlight early this year when Hollywood actor John Travolta’s 16-year-old son Jett died after suffering a seizure.Travolta believes the regular use of carpet cleaner, when Jett was a toddler, caused his son’s immune system to over-react, resulting in the rare inflammatory disorder Kawasaki syndrome.However, the link is unproven and Kawasaki syndrome usually clears up within a three to four weeks of treatment, rarely affecting children over the age of eight.One explanation for the growth in allergies that is gaining acceptance by many experts is the “hygiene hypothesis”.The logic is simple: we are so hygienic we aren’t being exposed to the same level or variety of bacteria as in the past, so our immune systems are unable to build up defences.When an everyday irritant comes along, our bodies have an allergic over-reaction rather than taking it in their stride.Good and bad bacteriaResearch shows children born into farming families have lower rates of allergies than their city counterparts, who tend to live in more protected and disinfected homes.Likewise, those who grow up with pets, in large families or attending childcare, appear to have more robust natural defences. Associate Professor Mimi Tang, director of allergy and immunology at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, says the hygiene hypothesis is considered increasingly credible in the scientific community.“It’s the most popular theory on why allergies have risen so much,’’ she says.“It explains both the rise in allergies and auto-immune disorders.”Auto-immune disorders becoming more prevalent include Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease and multiple sclerosis.In each of these diseases, sufferers’ immune systems attack the body’s own cells.So what can we do to cut our risk?The Victorian Government advocates a simple “soap and water” approach to hygiene through its Better Health Channel website.Professor Tang also believes mothers may hold part of the key to prevention before their babies are even born.While genetics play a role in determining susceptibility, bacterial exposure during pregnancy may also be important.“The first bacteria that colonise the gut in babies are thought to be essential in establishing immunity,” she says. She believes expectant women can pass good bacteria to their babies and is leading a study comparing eczema rates in babies born to women who are given a probiotic during pregnancy to those given a placebo.Babies with eczema have been found to have fewer “good” bacteria and higher levels of “bad” bacteria in their gut. Asthma is another disease that is closely linked to allergies.Kristina Croxford, education and training manager at the Asthma Foundation of Western Australia, says the biggest risk factor is family history. “Different allergens can trigger asthma, such as pollens, dust mites, pet dander and moulds,’’ she says.“But if your asthma is not triggered by a particular allergen there is no need to avoid it.” We should, it seems, be a bit more relaxed about hygiene and avoid wrapping the next generation in a bubble of disinfected cotton wool. “I think it was necessary to improve our community hygiene levels so we weren’t all dying of typhoid and cholera in the street,” Professor Tang says.

Kawasaki Disease Know the Symptoms

Kawasaki Disease: Know the Symptoms
Visit www.kidsgrowth.com for more educational information.
Kawasaki Disease: Know the Symptoms Most parents have probably never heard much about Kawasaki disease, a relatively new illness first described in Japanese children by pediatrician Dr. Tomsaku Kawasaki. It is common for people to even joke about motorcycles when they first hear about a case. Kawasaki disease is worrisome because untreated the condition can result in serious damage to the arteries that carry blood to a child's heart muscle. Two to four weeks into the illness, a small number of youngsters develop a dangerous bulge (dilatation) in their coronary arteries. Untreated, the walls of the artery then become weak causing a more permanent dilatation (aneurysm) to form. Two other heart complications include infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis) and the formation of clots that block the flow of blood. Either can cause an actual heart attack or heart failure in the affected child. Kawasaki disease affects children between 6 months and 8 years of age, most younger than 2 years of age. Asian children are more susceptible than White or Black youngsters, and boys outnumber girls. There is no evidence that the disease is contagious, although siblings of affected children are more prone to getting the illness. In a typical case of Kawasaki disease, a child develops a high spiking fever (103 to 105 degrees F) that lasts for well over five days. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) lowers the temperature but it generally never completely returns to "normal." Other symptoms and signs include swollen lymph nodes in one side of the neck, sore throat, irritability, fatigue, a bright red tongue, swollen palms and soles, bloodshot eyes without discharge, dry cracked lips and a skin rash on the chest. The source of this rare pediatric disorder remains a mystery. A bacterial or viral origin has been suggested because the illness acts like an infectious disease. Researchers have put forward many different theories trying to find the cause. Diagnosis within the first 10 days of the illness and the institution of treatment dramatically reduces a child's chances of serious complications. Unfortunately, Kawasaki's disease is a great masquerader and acts like several other common childhood ailments. Typically, many youngsters with Kawasaki disease have been diagnosed with a strep throat and treated with antibiotics. When their irritable, sick child shows no signs of improvement, parents often become frustrated and frightened. Even when rechecked by the child's physician, the disease may be confused with a medication reaction, measles, or another viral infection unless other symptoms of Kawasaki Disease are present. There are no lab tests as yet to help pediatricians confirm a case of Kawasaki disease. Therefore, a diagnosis is made when the child meets certain criteria. These include a fever over 103 degrees F lasting five days or more, and four of the following:
red throat and dry cracked lips
a red rash, primarily on the trunk
reddening and swelling of the hands and feet
enlarged lymph nodes in the neck
redness of the whites of the eyes without dischargeFortunately, effective treatment is available. Early in the course of Kawasaki Disease, administration of high dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), a purified blood plasma product containing disease-fighting components, produces dramatic improvement in the child's condition. In addition, aspirin, started in high doses, helps reduce inflammation and lower fever. In general, aspirin is not recommended for children, but when prescribed by a physician for the treatment of a particular disease, it is not associated with an increased risk for Reye's syndrome. Exactly how the combination of aspirin and IVIG work to prevent the coronary artery abnormalities is still unknown, but so far its "track record" is very good. Following discharge from the hospital, close follow-up by a pediatric cardiologist is essential. Preventing Kawasaki disease is more difficult than treatment, since it is impossible to say what to avoid. All parents can hope is that researchers will soon discover what situations are associated with the illness, and then avoid those conditions. It has been nearly 30 years since Kawasaki disease was first described and much remains to be learned about this mysterious condition. Fortunately, early recognition and prompt treatment with aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin can prevent the serious heart complications in almost all children.
Copyright © 1999-2009 KG Investments, LLC.
The leader in online pediatric practice management. This information is for educational purposes only and it should be used only as a guide.

KD an overview

Kawasaki disease: an overview
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases:
June 2008 - Volume 21 - Issue 3 - p 263-270
doi: 10.1097/QCO.0b013e3282fbf9cd
Paediatric and neonatal infections: Edited by Paul T. Heath
Kawasaki disease: an overview
Pinna, Georgia S; Kafetzis, Dimitris A; Tselkas, Orestis I; Skevaki, Chrysanthi L

Abstract
Purpose of review: Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of childhood. The increasing frequency of the disease as well as the deficiency of specific diagnostic means renders its diagnosis and treatment an area of intense investigation. The purpose of this review is to summarize all the known features of Kawasaki disease and also give an insight to the latest findings.
Recent findings: Kawasaki disease is one of the leading causes of acquired heart disease in children while its cause remains essentially unknown. Viruses, bacterial conventional as well as superantigens, and genetic polymorphisms have been implicated in the etiology of the disease. Markers of inflammation, such as CCL2 and CCXCL10, contribute to the pathology and the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. Intravenous administration of immunoglobulin remains the mainstay of therapy for Kawasaki disease. Nevertheless, forms of the disease refractory to intravenous administration of immunoglobulin therapy may respond to aspirin, corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and/or plasmapheresis.
Summary: The present review covers evidence regarding the history of Kawasaki disease, the epidemiology, etiology, pathology, genetic influences, and long-term sequela. It also includes an evaluation of contemporary diagnostic techniques and optimal therapeutic approaches with an emphasis on recent publications.

KD Long term health

Article on KD long term health
PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 3 March 2003, pp. 579-583....
Physical and Psychosocial Health in Children Who Have Had Kawasaki Disease ....Annette L. Baker, MSN, PNP*.., ..Kimberlee Gauvreau, ScD*.., ..Jane W. Newburger, MD, MPH*.., ..Robert P. Sundel, MD*.., ..David R. Fulton, MD*.. and ..Kathy J. Jenkins, MD, MPH*.. * From the Department of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts ....-->.. Objective. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical and psychosocial well-being of children who have had Kawasaki disease (KD), including the influence of coronary artery status on health and health perceptions. Methods. The Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) measures overall physical and psychosocial well-being in children 5 to 18 years. To study the long-term impact of KD on overall health status, we mailed the CHQ to patients without a history of coronary artery abnormalities (normal group), with regressed aneurysms (regressed group), with current coronary aneurysms <8 aneurysms =" src=" border="0">8 mm (giant group). Results. Of 201 questionnaires mailed, 174 were delivered and 110 (63%) were completed. Median age (range) at completion was 10.5 years (5.1–17.9 years) and at illness onset was 3.1 years (0.2–12 years). There were no significant differences in psychosocial summary scores in any of the Kawasaki groups when compared with the US population sample. Physical summary scores were also similar to the US population sample in the normal coronary, mild-moderate aneurysm, and regressed aneurysm groups. However, the giant aneurysm group had significantly lower physical summary scores compared with the US population sample. Among subscales, general health perceptions in the KD groups were lower than in the US population sample, reaching statistical significance in all but the mild to moderate aneurysm group. In addition, parents whose children have had KD reported a higher proportion of anxiety issues, allergies, and orthopedic/bone/joint issues in their children than did the general US population sample. We did not find any difference in the incidence of attentional, behavioral, or learning issues when compared with the US population sample. Conclusions. KD patients without coronary artery aneurysms were similar to the general population in their general physical and psychosocial health. However, the parents of children in all KD groups reported lower general health perceptions than parents in the US population sample, suggesting that long-term concerns about their children’s health exist regardless of overall health status. In addition, children with giant coronary artery aneurysms had lower overall physical summary scores. Key Words: Kawasaki disease • Child Health Questionnaire • functional health status • quality of life Abbreviations: KD, Kawasaki disease • CHQ, Child Health Questionnaire • JRA, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis • ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Received for publication May 7, 2002; Accepted Sep 11, 2002.

KD INFO

Surveys on children with Kawasaki disease in Japan
Mortality among children with Kawasaki disease in Japan
Article Abstract:The risk of dying for boys with Kawasaki disease may be twice as high as that of healthy boys the same age, and higher than that of girls with Kawasaki disease. Kawasaki disease is a disorder that affects mainly infants and toddlers; causes inflammation of the blood and lymphatic vessels throughout the body. Of 4,608 Japanese children with Kawasaki disease who could be followed, 13 died during the 18-month study: 10 boys and three girls. The number of deaths among these children was higher than the expected number for healthy children the same age. The number of boys with Kawasaki disease who died was approximately two times higher than the expected number for age-matched healthy boys, while the number of deaths among girls with Kawasaki disease was approximately the same as for age-matched healthy girls. The number of deaths during the acute phase of the disease, or the first two months after its onset, was much higher than for comparable healthy children. After the acute phase, the number of deaths was approximately equal to the expected number.
author: Nakamura, Yosikazu, Yanagawa, Hiroshi, Kawasaki, Tomisaku
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical SocietyPublication Name: The New England Journal of MedicineSubject: HealthISSN: 0028-4793Year: 1992
Serum concentrations of total bile acids in patients with acute Kawasaki syndrome
Article Abstract:The association between the increase in total bile acid (TBA) levels seen in some children with Kawasaki syndrome (KS) and other measurements of liver function is unclear. The liver produces the bile acids that aid in the digestion of fats. Researchers evaluated the blood levels of TBA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBil), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in 71 children aged 2 months to 8 years in the initial phase of KS. They repeated these blood tests in 29 of these patients during their recovery. Twenty-two percent of the 71 patients had increased TBA levels during the initial phase of KS. TBil and ALT levels were normal in some of these patients with increased TBA levels. There was no association between TBAs and any of the other liver function tests in 10 patients who also had heart complications. TBA levels returned to normal in all but three patients evaluated during the recovery phase.
author: Kato, Hirohisa, Kimura, Akihiko, Inoue, Osamu
Publisher: American Medical AssociationPublication Name: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent MedicineSubject: HealthISSN: 1072-4710Year: 1996
Results of 12 nationwide epidemiological incidence surveys of Kawasaki disease in Japan
Article Abstract:The frequency and distribution of Kawasaki disease in Japan indicates that the disease may not be caused by a virus. Researchers reviewed hospital surveys of Kawasaki disease conducted at two-year intervals between 1970 and 1992. The number of patients with the disease rapidly increased from 1970 to 1986 and remained stable at approximately 5,000 per year thereafter. Outbreaks occurred in 1979, 1982, and 1986 during which the rate of sibling cases increased. Males and children younger than one year of age had higher rates of Kawasaki disease and heart complications than other children. The recurrence rate ranged between .3% and 5% and increased slightly following outbreaks. The death rate decreased from 1% in 1974 to .04% in 1992. Corticosteroid treatment decreased significantly from 1975 to 1990 while the use of immune globulins increased sharply from 1982 to 1992.
author: Nakamura, Yosikazu, Yanagawa, Hiroshi, Kawasaki, Tomisaku, Yashiro, Mayumi, Kato, Hirohisa
Publisher: American Medical AssociationPublication Name: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent MedicineSubject: HealthISSN: 1072-4710Year: 1995

KD RESEARCH

Kawasaki disease rate in San Diego County
Two specialists join Kawasaki disease team ..
Email this article..
Date: 2008-07-24Contact: Kim EdwardsPhone: (619) 543-6163Email: edwards@ucsd.edu
For more than 30 years, pediatrician Jane Burns, M.D., has dedicated her research to solving the mystery of Kawasaki disease (KD), a childhood illness characterized by fever, rash, red eyes, red lips, and red hands and feet that can lead to serious heart disease. As professor and chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology in the UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics, Burns has added two new specialists to her internationally recognized team to further expand the major effort she is leading to collect data regarding KD in culturally diverse "at risk" populations. "Of the children who get KD, 25 percent will develop coronary artery damage if not treated. This irreversible damage to the heart can lead to a heart attack, or even heart failure requiring a transplant. It's a very treatable condition and yet, so many physicians and parents just don't know about it," said Burns. Adriana Tremoulet, M.D., assistant professor, UC San Diego Department of Pediatrics and Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, and Susan Fernandez, M.D., post-doctoral researcher at UC San Diego, will assist Burns with, among other things, reaching out to particularly vulnerable communities that include Latino and Filipino families. Tremoulet's focus will be running clinical trials for promising drugs to treat KD to give patients access to state of the art therapies. In addition, as a KD expert who speaks fluent Spanish, she will work with Spanish-speaking community physicians and parents to educate them about KD. "Information about Latinos with KD is severely lacking," said Tremoulet. "We have data from Japan, China, Korea, India and major U.S. cities, but very little on Latin America. And this disease does not stop at the border." Fernandez, who was a practicing doctor in the Philippines, will be helping increase outreach in the San Diego Filipino community and raise awareness about KD in Filipino families with young children. She also is planning collaborations with researchers at the University of Santo Tomas, Catholic University of the Philippines. Burns and other experts believe the lack of awareness about KD may be due to the fact that KD is often confused with infectious diseases such as scarlet fever and measles. The drug of choice in treating KD is Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) which is often unobtainable or too expensive for patients being treated in developing countries. Experts predict more than 4,000 new KD patients will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and over 10,000 new patients in Japan. An unknown number of patients will not be diagnosed or treated and will develop silent damage that may present as a heart attack or sudden death in an otherwise healthy young adult, decades after the initial injury. Burns added, "We think this is just the tip of the iceberg. These are the cases that are identified. We've no idea how many more cases go untreated. We hope our outreach, in San Diego, and around the globe, will help change that." About Kawasaki disease: Kawasaki Disease is not a rare illness but it is most prevalent in Japan. In San Diego County, 20 to 30 children per 100,000 children less than 5 years of age are affected each year. More than 50 new patients are treated annually at Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego. The illness is four to five times more common than some more publicly recognized diseases of children such as tuberculosis or bacterial meningitis. If untreated, KD can lead to lethal coronary artery aneurysms. KD tends to run in families, suggesting that there are genetic components to disease risk. It is also 10 to 20 times more common in Japanese and Japanese American children than in children of European descent.

KD RESEARCH

Epidemiologic characteristics of children hospitalized for Kawasaki disease in California
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal:Volume 21(12)December 2002pp 1150-1155
Epidemiologic characteristics of children hospitalized for Kawasaki disease in California
[Original Studies]
CHANG, RUEY-KANG R. MD, MPH
From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA
Accepted for publication Aug. 20, 2002.
Reprints not available.
Abstract
Objective. To evaluate the epidemiologic pattern of Kawasaki disease (KD) in California.
Methods. Statewide hospital discharge data from California from 1995 through 1999 were used. Children 0 through 17 years old who had a discharge diagnosis of KD (by ICD9-CM code 446.1) were identified. Precipitation and temperature data of climate divisions of the state were used to determine their possible association with incidences of KD. Multiple regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors related to the KD incidence of the counties.
Results. There were 2325 patients admitted to 194 California hospitals during the 5-year study period. The male-to-female ratio was 1.62. Median age was 30 months; peak incidence by year of age was in the second year of life. Overall annual incidence was 15.3 cases per 100 000 children <5 years old and 3.2 cases per 100 000 children 5 through 9 years old. Compared with 1995 and 1996, the incidence for children <5 years old increased by 30% in 1997 and 1998 (P < 0.01). In contrast the incidence for children 5 through 9 years old remained relatively unchanged. Asians had the highest incidence of 35.3 cases per 100 000 children <5 years old, followed by blacks (24.6) and whites (14.7) (P < 0.01). The number of cases peaked in March and had its nadir in September. In a multiple regression analysis, no association was found between KD incidence and temperature or precipitation. KD incidence was not related to average family size, proportion of Asians in the population, population density or whether the county is in northern or southern California. There was no in hospital death. The median length of hospital stay was 2 days.
Conclusions. The incidence of Kawasaki disease in patients <5 years old increased in 1997 and 1998. Asians had the highest KD incidence compared with other races. Peak incidence was in March, and the lowest incidence was in September. KD incidence was not associated with temperature, precipitation, family size or population density.

Brooke's Kawasaki Disease Story!

Brooke's Kawasaki Disease Story!
This is Brooke's Kawasaki disease story, she is a 20 year old beautiful, strong woman, who is doing all she can to help raise KD awareness. Please see "Brooke's Kawasaki Disease Album" under my pictures.Thank you Brooke for taking the time to share this part of your life with us, and thank you for helping us help raise KD awareness!VanessaPLEASE READ ON FOR BROOKE'S FULL STORY:BEGINNING:I was 2 years old, at my babysitters house. My mom picked me up after she got off work and I had flu/virus like symptoms. We got to our house and my mom realized I was extremely hot. She took me to the hospital (Druid City Hospital Tuscaloosa, AL) and they started treating me for Rocky Mountain Tick Fever. After five days, they diagnosed me with Kawasaki Syndrome (at the time thats what it was called). I received the 12 hours treatment. I remember getting a lot of shots in my feet, my mom said it was every 30 minutes. They told my mom before I went home that I may have arthritis at a young age and possible heart issues.SYMPTOMS:fever got up to 106.9body was swollenbig layers of skin would peel offeyes were red and puffyUPDATE:I was diagnosed with arthritis in every joint in my body, at the age of 14. I am taken heart medication to keep it regulated. I witnesses my rate skipping from 222 to 58, thats the most drastic jump.I am supposed to be going through with more testing for muscular diseases, but I'm letting God take control and just praying for all the families with members who have KD and the kids with KD now.Thanks for the site and being interested into other stories.

Dax's Kawasaki Disease Story!

Dax Allen's Kawasaki Disease Story!
This is Dax Allen's KD story, he is currently 1 yr old, and had KD at 6 months old, it is told by his wonderful mommy Shari who is helping in the race to raise KD awareness. You can see Dax's pictures under my albums "Dax Allen's Kawasaki Disease Album!" Thank you Shari for all your help and time in helping us raise KD awareness. Shari recommends to check ot the Vasculitis Foundation site for serious KD support, please check it out if you haven't done so yet.Thank you, VanessaPLEASE READ ON FOR DAX ALLEN'S FULL STORY: Dax had a very resistant case of KD. He had to be hospitalized twice and received 2 courses of IvIg and 3 courses of steroids. He had some inflammation of his coronary arteries, but 3 months after his diagnosis, his heart appeared to be back to normal. Thankfully he did not have any aneurysms. We believe he was treated between day 5 and 8 of the 10 day window. It's difficult to know for sure because he had had his shots 9 days before his diagnosis of KD and had been getting progressively sicker from then on. He just celebrated his 1st birthday and is doing fine.
Thanks for all you're doing to spread awareness. If you haven't already, you may want to check out the Vasculitis Foundation for wonderful KD support and info.
Shari

Aussie professor discovers danger gene for deadly Kawasaki disease

Aussie professor discovers danger gene for deadly Kawasaki disease
Aussie professor discovers danger gene for deadly Kawasaki disease
Posted Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:03pm AEDT

The researchers identified genes which could make some children more susceptible. (ABC News)......
An Australian researcher says he has made a breakthrough which could lead to a diagnostic test and better treatment for the potentially fatal Kawasaki disease.The illness is an inflammatory condition in young children that can damage blood vessels.There are up to 200 cases in Australia each year.A team of researchers led by University of Western Australia Professor David Burgner studied almost 900 cases around the world and has identified genes which could make some children more susceptible.Lily Allen was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease before she was two months old.She is now fully recovered, but Lily's mother Amanda says they had to wait several agonising days before a diagnosis could be made."That was the hard thing, we knew nothing of it and it just took so long to actually diagnose it, which was hard," she said. "It emotionally and physically takes its toll on you. You wonder why your baby's so sick and her heart rate was at 180 at rest, so she was constantly in pain and having trouble breathing."Named after the professor who first described it, Kawasaki disease usually affects children aged from six months to four years.The symptoms include fever, rash, swollen hands and feet, and peeling skin.Kawasaki disease also inflames blood vessels and can cause permanent damage to the heart.Professor Burgner says the disease can be difficult to diagnose."It's often mistaken for Measles or severe infections, scarlet fever or even sometimes meningitis," he said. "So this is a mysterious but very serious disease of young children."Like many diseases we think that genetics plays a major role in deciding or determining who actually develops Kawasaki disease. "And we think this because if Japanese children move to America which has a relatively low rate, their risk remains as high as it would be if they were in Japan. "And the risk of brothers and sisters who have had Kawasaki disease is about 10 times the risk of the general population."So we think that genes are going to be important in determining who actually develops Kawasaki disease when they're exposed to whatever it is that's triggering this illness," he added.Professor Burgner says the findings are an important first step in understanding the disease."Ultimately we'd like to develop a diagnostic test, that's really what the paediatricians are crying out for - a bedside or a diagnostic test for Kawasaki disease, because it's a very difficult diagnosis to make sometimes," he said. "We need better treatment because our best treatment actually fails in 5 to 10 per cent of cases to prevent damage to the heart. "It's not inconceivable. In the future we may be able to develop a vaccine to prevent Kawasaki disease and maybe that will have some impact on future risk of heart attack and things like that.Based on report by David Weber for PM Friday january 9, 2009.

Lance's Kawasaki Disease Story!

Lance's Kawasaki Disease Story!
This is Lance's KD story, told by his mommy Melissa, Lance was diagnosed with KD at 3 years old, you can see Lance's pictures under my albums "Lance's Kawasaki Disease Album". Thank you so much Melissa for taking the time to share your son's story with us. Vanessa
PLEASE READ ON FOR FULL STORY:

THANKS FOR THE OPPURTUNITY TO SHARE!!

THIS IS LANCE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH KD OCT. 7, 2003 AT AGE OF 3. HE SUFFERED AN ANUERYSM AND THEN DILATED ARTERY WHICH WAS TREATED WITH ASPIRIN THERAPY FOR ALMOST A YEAR AND IS NOW CONSIDERED HIS "NEW NORMAL" AND CONTINUES TO HAVE BI-YEARLY EVALUATIONS. HE ALSO SUFFERED A STROKE FEB. 21, 2004 WHILE ON ASPIRIN THERAPY, SHORTLY AFTER THAT HE WAS DIAGNOSED AS EPILEPTIC AND IS CURRENTLY ON SEIZURE MEDS. THIS YEAR HE WAS DIAGNOSED AS AUTISTIC.


THANKS,
MELISSA :)

KD AWARENESS

How we can all help raise KD awareness, by Jane C. Burns, M.D.
Finding your voice and being heard: Promoting awareness of KD....
Jane C. Burns, M.D.....
2006....
.. ..
"The way we change the world is one person at a time."....
Premise: Everyone has a voice, however soft, and can be heard.....
.. ..
Level I: The Whisper....
1) Tell a neighbor about KD....
2) If your child is recovering from KD, go out of your way to work his/her illness into every conversation:....
Dry cleaner: How are you today?....
KD parent: Pretty tired, my child has been ill.....
Dry cleaner: Really, hope it’s not too serious.....
KD parent: My child has ....Kawasaki.... disease. Every heard of it? It’s a strange disease that is now the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in the ....U.S....., etc.....
3) Tell your church/ synagogue group, people at work, tennis partner, relatives about KD....
4) Help your older child do a project for science class on KD. Use the UCSD, AHA, or other websites for color photos and information.....
5) Add this to your signature on your e-mail so that you automatically send it with each message:....
"Ask me about Kawasaki Disease! The way we change the world is one person at a time." ....
....
Level II: In a Louder Voice....
1) Contact your local health dept. and find out if KD is a reportable disease in your state. Only 22 states currently require the reporting of KD by law. Find out which hospitals in your area see the greatest number of KD patients. Calculate the anticipated number of KD cases/year in your community by contacting managers of local data bases who make population estimates for local planners and government. Find out how many children under the age of 5 there are in your community. Estimate an average attack rate for KD at 20/100,000 and do the arithmetic. Are the rates for diagnosed KD patients low or high in your community? Discuss these results with the epidemiologists at the health dept.....
2) Contact the pediatric infectious disease specialist at the hospital that sees the most KD patients and volunteer your time for any research projects. Frequently researchers would like to have someone to help call back families to participate in research studies, organize a data base, send out mailings, etc.....
3) Contact your local AHA office and find out about participating in fund raising activities, Walk-a-thons, etc. The AHA is an important supporter of KD research and educational activities.....
Make a T-shirt for the Walk-a-thon that says, “Ask me about ....Kawasaki.... disease!” on the back or order T-shirts from the KD Foundation (kdfoundation.org). ....
4) Write to your representatives in Congress and your senators and ask them to support bills for medical research. Give them some information about KD so that staffers can educate themselves. Include one of the educational website addresses for KD.....
5) Order the “Ask me about Kawasaki Disease” button from the KD Foundation and wear it when you have the energy to talk to strangers.....
.. ..
Level III: The Shout....
1) Ask your local Health Dept. of they would be willing to print up flyers on KD in a format appropriate for your community. Use the San Diego English-Spanish flyer as a model. Next, mobilize a group of parent volunteers to distribute the flyers. Consider distributing flyers just prior to "peak" KD season, usually Jan.-April in many communities. Suggestions for distribution include:....
a) Counter of local pharmacy where you wait for your prescriptions. Most pharmacists are happy to have a stack of flyers available for customers.....
b) High-end children’s clothing stores: Gymboree, Baby Gap, etc.....
c) Contact local school board and ask if flyer can be included with the new student packet that is distributed to families of prospective kindergartners during the summer....
d) Pediatrician or family practitioner office waiting rooms. Parents are happy to have something to read during the long waits. This has the added advantage of increasing physician awareness about the disease.....
e) Day care or child care centers....
f) Teen parent programs through the school system....
2) Contact your local TV station and ask if they would do an educational spot on KD. It helps to have a KD expert in your community. Offer to have you and your family interviewed about KD and your child’s illness. TV stations can actually show photographs directly from the UCSD website to illustrate the features of KD.....
3) Design a catchy educational poster about KD that could be posted on community bulletin boards in churches, schools, businesses. Include the KD Foundation website where people can go for more information.....
4) Become trained as a lay community health worker and give lectures to local groups such as school nurses, teachers, service clubs, church groups, high school students as part of their health curriculum.....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------....
Add 3 new ideas to this list and e-mail to ..jcburns@ucsd.edu... I will make sure your ideas are posted on our website.....
.. ..
1)....
.. ..
.. ..
2)....
.. ..
.. ..
3)....

KD RESEARCH

Please help with KD research: Instructions For Participation In A Research Project At UCSD
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN A RESEARCH PROJECT AT UCSD
Genetic polymorphisms in Kawasaki Disease
Principal Investigator: Jane C. Burns, M.D.
Instructions to parents for blood drawing:
In order to participate in our DNA study, we will need a DNA sample from your child. For children less than 6 yrs., this must be provided by a blood sample. In older children, we can use a mouthwash rinse sample as we do for the parents. Please follow these instructions:....
1) If your child is under 6 yrs. of age, please arrange blood drawing through your local physician. We have no funding to defray the cost of the blood drawing or the shipping costs. ....
2) Please include with the blood sample your name, name of your child, home address, telephone number, and e-mail so that we may contact you if there is a problem.....
3) Please request a copy of the hospital discharge summary (or other summary describing the features of your child's acute illness) and any echocardiogram report from your physician. Include these documents with the signed consent form. This information will be kept confidential, but we must have it in order to confirm that your child did, indeed, have ....Kawasaki.... disease.....
4) Return the signed parent consent form when you send us the blood sample.....
Instructions to laboratory/phlebotomist:....
a) Please draw 3 cc from the research subject into a lavender top tube (EDTA)....
b) Ship by Fed Ex or regular air mail. During the summer months, ship with blue ice packs to keep samples cool, but not frozen. Tubes must be wrapped so that they will not be in contact with the blue ice packs. Do not ship on wet ice! During winter months, wrap tubes in paper towels or bubble wrap to prevent freezing.....
c) Do not ship samples on a Friday. We cannot accept weekend delivery. Blood samples may be held refrigerated (4°C) for several days before shipping.....
d) Fed Ex address:....
Jane C. Burns, M.D.....
....UCSD.. ..School.... of Medicine....
....Basic.. ..Science.. ..Building.... , 2nd fl., Rm 2023....
....La Jolla.., ..CA.. ..92093.......
Tel. 858-246-0157....
e) If possible, please send e-mail to our Lab Manager, DeeAnna Scherrer (dscherrer@ucsd.edu) with Fed Ex tracking # so that we can track the shipment if it doesn't arrive.....
Thank you for your participation in this research project. Please check our website for updates on research progress. Kawasaki Website:....
http://www.pediatrics.ucsd.edu/kawasaki....

KD RESEARCH

Please participate in KD research:Letter to KD parents
Dear Parent,
Thank you for your interest in our study to learn more about why some children get Kawasaki disease (KD) while others do not. To participate in this study, we need to receive samples from which we can extract DNA (genetic information contained within cells in the body) from both biologic parents and from the affected child. For the parents, DNA can be extracted from a Scope mouthwash sample that we will send to you in a collection kit. For children over 6 yrs., we can also use the mouthwash. For younger children, we will need a small blood sample (less than one teaspoon) that will need to be drawn by a local laboratory in your community.If you are interested in participating, we will send complete instructions and consent forms that must be signed and returned to us.
Please write back by e-mail (jcburns@ucsd.edu) if you are interested in participating and give us your mailing address and age of your child. We also need to know the following:
a) Status of your child's coronary arteries by echocardiogram (e.g. normal, aneurysms, dilated)
b) Number of IVIG treatments your child received (most children just receive one)
c) Your ethnic group/race
We understand the time and energy that it takes to be a research subject and we deeply appreciate your willingness to help us answer important questions about KD. We could not do this work without the support of families such as yours. Please let me know if you have any questions. Be sure to visit our website to find out more about KD and about research studies at UCSD/Rady Children’s Hospital conducted by the KD Research Program.
UCSD Kawasaki Website:
http://www.pediatrics.ucsd.edu/kawasaki
Kawasaki Foundation website:
http://www.kdfoundation.org

Best regards,

Jane C. Burns M.D.
Director, ....Kawasaki.... Disease Research Program
Rady Children’s Hospital
Dept. of Pediatrics, ....UCSD.. ..School.... of Medicine