How to Diagnose Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease typically affects children under 5 years of age. The body's blood vessels swell with this illness. No specific laboratory test can diagnose it with 100% accuracy; however, symptoms can be used to identify it. Here is a list of criteria for diagnosis in the order of occurrence.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Have a fever for at least 5 days straight. Your doctor wants to see a child with a fever of this duration so he can rule out this condition. If it goes untreated, the fever can last up to 11 days.
-
2
Know the visual symptoms to help diagnose Kawasaki disease. A rash appears on the palms of your child's hands and soles of his feet. His skin will begin to peel from his fingertips.
-
-
3
Check out the eyes and lips. They both would be irritated with the whites of the eyes appearing reddish, similar to pink eye. The lips will also appear red.
-
4
Look for swelling and inflammation. The neck lymph nodes swell and the mouth, lips and throat become inflamed and irritated along with a general body rash. The rash could have mildly raised spots.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
A spinal tap may be necessary for the doctor to diagnose Kawasaki disease. This test can show inflammation of the spinal fluid which can confirm the diagnosis.
Once diagnosed, an ultrasound of the heart is done to get baseline measurements of the coronary arteries.
This disease occurs worldwide with the highest incidence in Japan. It mostly affects boys. In the US, studies have shown occurrences anywhere from 9 to 19 out of 100,000 children under 5 years of age.
Although the symptoms can go away without any treatment in 6 to 8 weeks, the effects on the coronary arteries can last forever. Always consult a doctor.
