First comes Winter: then come the Crazy Winter Viruses...Arghh!!!

Goes without saying that in this seemingly perfect yet imperfect world that sometimes, life throws you a curve ball that hits you from left field.... cause you usually don't see it coming. The agony one experiences from seeing a loved one get ill is an unexplainable feeling. So difficult to put into words.

Kawasaki Disease: 

What is this: Not much is known about the cause or why Kawasaki disease affects certain populations. It is more common in the younger population between the ages of infant to about 7 years old. Rarely is it seen in older kids or adults but there have been few reported cases of teenages as old as 14 years being affected by it. It's not uncommon for this disease to re-occur in affected patients. Some patients can recover even without treatment and resume normal healthy activities. 

Kawasaki is a vascular disease that affects the coronary arteries of the heart. In about 20 to 30 percent of affected patients, it leads to coronary aneurism and that can be prevented if anti-platelet therapy such as high dose Aspirin with or without IVIG (Immune globulin) administration are given. This is usually administered in a hospital setting for about fourteen days where monitoring parameters are in effect to check for complications such as hemolytic anemia and several others.

Signs and Symptoms: Patients presenting with Kawasaki would experience at least three or more of these symptoms. This disease usually presents in three stages and 

• High fever >103 for at least five days
• Full body rash
• Conjunctival involvement (with or without discharge)
• Rose colored tongue
• Elevated platelet levels,  AST and ALT

Kawasaki sometimes could progress in stages that include peeling of the fingertips, palms, toes and the soles of the feet as well. Some patients will go on to develop changes in their coronary arteries while some patients will go on to full recovery with no further complications.

Please check with your child's pediatrician as some cases could present with atypical symptoms as well.

Hope this has been helpful

To be continued.....http://www.bugzsy.com