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Kawasaki disease
Alternative Names: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Infantile polyarteritis Symptoms: Kawasaki disease often begins with a high and persistent fever greater than 102°F, often as high as 104°F. A persistent fever lasting at least five days is considered a hallmark sign. The fever may persist steadily for up to two weeks and is not very responsive to normal doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Text Continues Below Other symptoms often include: Extremely bloodshot or red eyes (without pus or drainage) Bright red, chapped, or cracked lips Red mucous membranes in the mouth Strawberry tongue, white coating on the tongue, or prominent red bumps on the back of the tongue Red palms of the hands and the soles of the feet Swollen hands and feet Skin rashes, NOT blister-like, on the trunk Peeling skin in the genital area, hands, and feet (especially around the nails, palms, and soles) Swollen lymph nodes (frequently only one lymph node is swollen), particularly in the neck area. Joint pain and swelling, frequently symmetrical Signs and tests: There are no tests that specifically diagnose Kawasaki disease. The diagnosis is usually made based on the patient having most of the classic symptoms. However, some children may have a fever lasting more than 5 days, but few of the other classic symptoms of the disease. Therefore, all children with fever lasting more than 5 days should be evaluated, with Kawasaki disease considered as a possibility. (The American Heart Association released guidelines for this assessment in the October 26, 2004 issue of Circulation.) Early treatment is essential for those who do have the disease. Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>