Kawasaki disease in Malaysia

Abstract

We report seven cases of Kawasaki disease (KD) who were admitted to Hospital University Sains Malaysia over a period of 8 years. The average age at the time of admission was 29.4 months and four of the children were boys. Five children had all six criteria for diagnosis. Ileus was present in three, and hydrops of the gall bladder and pneumonia in two each, but coronary artery dilatation was seen in only one patient. We also review all the cases of KD reported so far from Malaysia and compare the epidemiological data, clinical course and laboratory findings of the Malaysian patients with those from other parts of the world. The epidemiological and clinical features of Malaysians with KD differ from those seen in Singapore and Japan, but are similar to those seen in Thailand, Australia and North America. The incidence of cardiac complications is low in Malaysians.