children s health issues
Kawasaki Disease
Diagnosis of Kawasaki Disease
Established criteria Electrocardiography and ultrasonography of the heart Laboratory tests Doctors diagnose Kawasaki disease when children have at least 4 out of 5 defined symptoms (see sidebar). Doctors diagnose children with Kawasaki disease if they have had a fever for 5 days or more and if they have at least 4 of the following 5 symptoms: Red eyes with no discharge Reddened, dry, cracked lips and a red strawberry tongue Swelling, redness, and peeling of the hands and feet Red, patchy rash over the trunk Swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck Blood tests and cultures of the blood and throat are also done to rule out other disorders that cause similar symptoms (such as measles, scarlet fever, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children [MIS-C]). Doctors who specialize in treating children's heart disorders (pediatric cardiologists) or infectious diseases are often consulted. Once Kawasaki disease is diagnosed, children have Electrocardiography (ECG) and ultrasonography of the heart ( 