Abstract
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis affecting young children and is rising in incidence worldwide. It is most common in children <5 years of age, males and those of Asian ethnicity. It is an important cause of acquired heart disease in children. Standard treatment with high-dose aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid; ASA) and intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) has been shown to decrease the rate of coronary artery aneurysm development. Anti-coagulation has an important place in the management of KD, although guidance based on evidence is lacking. Treatment of refractory KD is an area under intense study and may include IVIG, corticosteroids and/or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors among immunosuppressive agents. Acute complications of KD include myocarditis/KD shock syndrome and macrophage activation syndrome, which necessitate appropriate awareness in order to initiate proper management.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
