It could be mistaken for measles, is hard to diagnose early, and could be fatal.
It’s a disease quite new to Bangalore.
Medically, it is ‘idiopathic’ - which means that it arises spontaneously, from an unknown cause. Its symptoms are similar to measles. Left untreated, it could be fatal.
“I have seen a few cases of Kawasaki after parents consulted one or two other paediatricians, who treated the children for measles. The awareness about Kawasaki is limited, even among paediatricians,” said Dr Bhaskar Shenoi, HoD, paediatrics, Manipal Hospital, who has treated six cases of Kawasaki over the last couple of months, and 10 cases of measles.
The disease usually occurs in children between the ages of one and five years. However, even infants just a month old could have Kawasaki. It is extremely important that an accurate diagnosis be made at the earliest, to prevent fatality. However, symptoms of the disease only manifest after about five days of its onset. By that time, the damage to the coronary vessel might have already been done.
“If the disease remains untreated, it could lead to dilatation of the coronary vessel. Over a period of time, coronary vessels burst, and a sudden cardiac death could occur,” said Dr Shenoi, who has treated around 30 cases of Kawasaki till date. “Early detection and treatment reduce the probabilities of long-term complication,” Dr Shenoi added.
Intravenous immuno globulin dosage, followed by a long course of aspirin for at least two months is prescribed to prevent the blood from clotting. “If the fever does not respond to medication, if the skin around the nails or the heel starts peeling, it could be a case of Kawasaki. An echo cardiogram will detect the condition,” said Dr Shenoi. Rashes and redness in the eyes and skin are all symptoms of this disease.
“An echo cardiogram might identify the condition only after it is about 10 days old, and it might then be too late,” said Dr Preethi Galgali, member of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.
Even children who recover need monitoring. “A sudden cardiac arrest in a young person might indicate that he had Kawasaki as a child,” said Dr Galgali.
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