What Is Kawasaki Disease? Symptoms and Treatment Methods

Kawasaki disease is a rare disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in children, especially in children under 5 years of age. This disease can have serious effects on the cardiovascular system and it is important to control it by early diagnosis and appropriate treatment methods. Having information about Kawasaki disease, and understanding the symptoms and treatment methods of the disease is of great importance, especially for parents. In this article we have written for you, we will try to give information about the definition, symptoms, complications and treatment methods of Kawasaki disease.

What Is Kawasaki Disease?

Kawasaki disease is a disease that occurs primarily in children and causes inflammation of the vessels, especially the coronary arteries. In 1967, it was first described by Japanese doctor Tomisaku Kawasaki. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved. Kawasaki disease can lead to serious complications such as heart attack and heart failure if not diagnosed and treated early.

What Are The Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease?

Symptoms of Kawasaki disease usually start suddenly and are as follows;

• High fever (39°C and above) and fever that persists for 5 days or more,
• Redness of the eyes and conjunctivitis,
• Redness of the tongue also called the strawberry tongue,
• Redness, cracks, and swelling of the lips and inside the mouth,
• Swelling and redness of the hands and feet,
• Swelling of the lymph nodes, especially in the neck area,
• Rashes, especially on the trunk and genital area,

What Are The Complications of Kawasaki Disease?

Kawasaki disease can cause serious complications in the cardiovascular system if not diagnosed and treated early. These complications can be listed as follows;

• Coronary artery aneurysm; Balloon-like structures formed as a result of weakening and expansion of the vessel wall
• Heart attack; Inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle due to blockage in the coronary arteries
• Heart failure; weakening of the heart muscle and impairment of pumping functions
• Myocarditis; Inflammation of the heart muscle
• Pericarditis; Inflammation of the heart membrane
• Arteritis; Vascular inflammation

Kawasaki disease is diagnosed by assessing symptoms and clinical signs. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important to prevent complications of the disease. Treatment methods include immunosuppressive drugs, aspirin, and vasodilators. Children with suspected Kawasaki disease should be evaluated by a pediatrician and appropriate treatment should be started.

What Causes Kawasaki Disease?

Kawasaki disease is a disease that primarily affects the blood vessels, especially in children. It is more common in children under 5 years of age and boys are more at risk than girls. The disease causes inflammation and dilation of medium-sized vessels in the body. This can affect blood flow to the heart and other organs, leading to serious health problems.

The exact cause of Kawasaki disease is not yet known. However, some factors are thought to play a role in the development of the disease. These include genetic predisposition, environmental factors and infections. Some researchers think that Kawasaki disease is the result of an autoimmune reaction caused by a viral or bacterial infection. It is also thought that the disease is not contagious, but there is a genetic predisposition in family members.

How Is Kawasaki Disease Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of Kawasaki disease is based on the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings and laboratory tests. Symptoms of the disease are as follows;

• Kawasaki disease starts with a high fever that lasts five days or more.
• Most patients have a red rash on the body.
• Redness and swelling of the eyes are observed.
• The patient’s tongue is red and swollen, and the lips are cracked and bleeding.
• Patients may have redness, swelling, and peeling of the hands and feet.
• Lymph nodes in the neck area of patients may be swollen and tender.

To diagnose Kawasaki disease, the doctor will first assess all the patient’s symptoms and perform a physical examination. In addition, laboratory tests and imaging methods can be used to avoid confusing the disease with other causes. These tests include blood tests, urine tests, echocardiography, and sometimes angiography.

How to Treat Kawasaki Disease?

Treatment of Kawasaki disease is aimed at reducing the inflammation caused by the disease and preventing heart complications. Early treatment of the disease significantly reduces the risk of permanent damage to the heart and other organs.

Two main medicines are usually used to treat Kawasaki disease;

• Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); this drug is a protein compound that helps reduce inflammation caused by the disease and prevent heart complications. Children with Kawasaki disease usually receive IVIG treatment within 10 days of the onset of the disease.
• Aspirin; Aspirin helps reduce inflammation and prevent blood clotting in the treatment of Kawasaki disease. In the acute phase of the disease, high doses of aspirin are used, and then low doses of aspirin are used.

During the treatment of Kawasaki disease, it is important to follow up with patients regularly and monitor cardiac complications. Patients usually need to have their heart function checked by echocardiography for 6-8 weeks. In addition, patients are advised to pay attention to their heart health throughout their lifetime and have regular check-ups.

What Should Be Considered After The Treatment Of Kawasaki Disease?

Kawasaki disease is a disease that affects the vessels in children, especially in children under 5 years of age. After the treatment process, there are some important points that families and patients should pay attention to. The points to be considered after Kawasaki disease treatment can be explained as follows;

It is important to continue regular medical check-ups after Kawasaki disease treatment. The doctor will assess the patient’s condition and help prevent possible complications.

Medicines recommended by the doctor, especially aspirin and other blood thinners, should be used regularly. These medicines help maintain cardiovascular health by preventing blood clots.

It is important that children with Kawasaki disease are vaccinated according to the vaccination schedule. Vaccines that provide extra protection against diseases such as influenza and pneumonia can also be given on a doctor’s advice.

After Kawasaki disease treatment, attention should be paid to a healthy and balanced diet. In particular, foods that support heart health should be consumed and high-fat, high-salt foods should be avoided.

It is important to continue physical activity at the level recommended by the doctor, depending on the course of the disease and the general condition of the child. This will help the child recover by increasing their energy levels.

Is Kawasaki Disease Contagious?

Kawasaki disease is a disease with no known infectious properties at present. The exact cause of the disease is not yet known, but genetic and environmental factors are thought to be involved. Therefore, children with Kawasaki disease can safely coexist with other children and there is no risk of passing the disease on.

Does Kawasaki Disease Recur?

Kawasaki disease is usually considered a one-off illness. However, the possibility of recurrence of the disease cannot be completely ruled out. In about 3 percent of children with Kawasaki disease, the disease may recur. It is therefore important that children who have had Kawasaki disease continue to have regular medical check-ups and watch out for early signs of possible recurrence. If recurrent symptoms are noticed, the doctor should be contacted quickly and appropriate treatment should be started.

Kawasaki Disease Treatment Prices in Turkey

Turkey has managed to announce its name to the world with its investments and studies in the field of health. Especially the latest technological devices used in diagnosis and treatment procedures have been a beacon of hope for many diseases. However, there has been an increase in health tourism in Türkiye.

• Hospitals are large, clean, spacious and fully equipped in terms of technological equipment.
• Turkish doctors are specialized, successful, and skilled in their fields.
• Nurses and carers are friendly and compassionate.
• Finding answers to the questions asked quickly and accurately.
• Patience and understanding of all staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient.
• Turkey offers holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauties.
• Easy transportation.
• Diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, eating, drinking, dressing, and holiday needs can be met at affordable prices.

Such situations are shown among the reasons for preference. Regarding Kawasaki Disease Treatment Prices in Turkey, we can see that patients and their relatives who want to come to Turkey are doing research. However, it would not be right to give clear price information at this stage. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnosis process, treatment process, and stay in Türkiye affect the price issue. If you want to get more detailed price information, you can contact us. In addition, if you come to Turkey for treatment through us, we can facilitate your visa application process with the invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.