Lymphadenitis as the dominant manifestation of Kawasaki disease

• Published in: Pediatrics (Evanston) Vol. 93; no. 3; pp. 525 - 528
• Main Authors: STAMOS, J. K, CORYDON, K, DONALDSON, J, SHULMAN, S. T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elk Grove Village, IL American Academy of Pediatrics 01-03-1994
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease; Diseases; Female; Health aspects; Humans; Kawasaki disease; Kawasaki syndrome; Lymphadenitis - etiology; Lymphadenopathy; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - complications; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome - diagnosis; Neck; Pediatric diseases; Pediatrics; Retrospective Studies; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Human; Clinical form; Cardiovascular disease; Lymphadenopathy syndrome; Lymphatic vessel disease; Vascular disease; Vasculitis; Adenopathy; Systemic disease; Complication; Neck; Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; Child
• ISSN: 0031-4005; 1098-4275
• DOI: 10.1542/peds.93.3.525

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness primarily affecting infants and young children. Its importance relates to the fact that 20% to 25% of untreated patients develop coronary abnormalities that can lead to myocardial infarction or even to death.1 KD is a leading cause of acquired heart disease in children in many regions, including the United States.2 Because there are no specific diagnostic tests for KD, the diagnosis is established by the presence of fever and four of five criteria without other explanation for the illness: (1) nonexudative conjunctival injection; (2) oral mucosal changes; (3) changes of the peripheral extremities; (4) rash, primarily truncal; and (5) cervical lymphadenopathy.