Enfermedad de Kawasaki: serie de casos en la Clfnica Universitaria Colombia, 2007-2009

Abstract

BackgroundKawasaki disease is a vasculitis of unknown etiology, first described by Tomisaku Kawasaki in January 1961. During the decade of the 1960s it was called "ocular mucocutane-ous syndrome" or "mucocutaneous lymph-node syndrome". In 1974 Kawasaki published the first report of 50 patients, from which the disease was renamed with the eponymous currently in use. Kawasaki's disease had an initial presentation as a national epidemic, but currently occurs as regional outbreaks. It is a clinical entity poorly diagnosed in our setting, which can be attributed in part to limited knowledge about the diagnostic criteria by health professionals. Summary of casesWe conducted a review of clinical records for the years 2007 to 2009 of children less than five years of age who had a feverish syndrome or exanthemáta's viral features, identifying four who were diagnosed as Kawasaki disease. The most common clinical manifestations were fever and changes in the oropharynx (100% of the cases), alterations in palms and soles polymorphic erythema (75%), and conjunctival injection and cervical adenop-athy (50%). Two of the patients presented echo-cardiograms coronary alterations. ConclusionsThe appropriate use of clinical criteria is the most important tool for the health professional to diagnose of Kawasaki disease and prevent associated complications.