Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease
If your child is labeled as a diagnosed case of Kawasaki disease, you may find yourself feeling inundated with information trying to learn what this disease is and how it affects them.
Kawasaki disease is an acute, febrile mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome of childhood. It typically manifests between 1 and 13 months of age. It affects the vessels that circulate blood throughout the body. During the development of this disease, these vessels become inflamed and thicker than normal. There are many symptoms associated with Kawasaki disease. This article will go over these symptoms as well as what exactly this disease is, when it’s noticeable and how to treat it.
Fever
Fever is among the most frequent complaints in Kawasaki disease (KD). It is persistent in 30% of infants and >90% in adults. High grade fever (above 101 F) that usually lasts more than 5 days is a common symptom in Kawasaki disease. It is also referred to as an “exceedingly high fever” that won’t go down even despite taking medications (anti-fever) that usually works on fever. Children with this condition can have a high fever and swollen lymph nodes.
Every child with Kawasaki disease does not have fever and in some cases, newborn babies may have lower than normal temperatures. The fever can rise up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit but is not considered to be a dangerous situation.
Rash
Kawasaki disease is a vasculitis which results in inflammation of blood vessels and leads to many symptoms. A generalized rash (similar to measles) is one of the most common of these symptoms.
The rash is a red to brown maculopapular eruption that may have scale. It may begin with erythema that evolves over a few days to the final pattern, progressing on the trunk and proximal extremities. During this evolution, the exanthema may resemble thrush or diaper rash. The palms and soles are unaffected.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes – especially in the neck – are an important indicator of Kawasaki disease. Swelling of lymph nodes occurs when inflammation occurs in the lymph glands. It is a rather common symptom of Kawasaki disease. Swollen lymph nodes in children with Kawasaki disease can be an alarming symptom. This sign is often the first to appear, and is frequently overlooked. Swollen lymph nodes are not a sign of your child’s illness getting worse. However it is a sign that you should visit your doctor to ensure that you are taking the right treatment for your child’s Kawasaki disease.
Dry, Cracked Lips
When your child has Kawasaki disease, it is important for you to identify the symptoms and dry, red cracked lips are a key symptom of the condition. You might think your child just has dry, chapped lips but this is a common misconception. This symptom usually occurs within the first week of getting sick and is due to the high levels of fever and rash present at this time.
Kawasaki disease causes the red, sandpaper-like texture when you press on the skin and even peeling up when you rub it. The lips become dry because they don’t make enough saliva, which is one way your body helps reduce the chance of getting hurt. Your lips also feel dry and tingly because they have less feeling in them. This is because Kawasaki disease damages the nerves in your fingers, toes, and lips.
Strawberry Tongue
Strawberry tongue (because it looks red like a strawberry) is the most common manifestation seen in a child presenting with the early signs and symptoms of Kawasaki disease. It is one of the most common physical findings in Kawasaki disease and indicates that the tiny blood vessels just below the tongue are inflamed. It is a peculiar condition in which the tongue looks pink or red often with tiny dots visible on the surface.
It might seem like a nice change from the normal pale color of someone’s tongue, but this symptom means that the child’s body is breaking down and has to be treated quickly.
Red Eyes
Kawasaki disease is a rare cardiac disease that affects the body in many ways. The eyes are one of many organs affected by this disease. The disease leaves the eye with scarred blood vessels that break easily and often leak. This is what causes the redness. After a bout of Kawasaki, people’s eyes often stay red for a few weeks or months and then go back to normal.
Swollen and red hands and feet
Many children and adults with Kawasaki disease suffer from swelling, redness and pain in their hands and feet. Kawasaki disease causes the body to create too much fluid (edema). This fluid leaks into many different parts of the body, including the skin and mucous membranes. When this happens, hands and feet can become swollen, red and itchy.
Edema occurs mostly in the front of the feet, above and between toes, proximal to metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints. It may be so pronounced that the tips of toes are visible only with difficulty. The affected parts ‘blush’ or look cherry-red after pressure has been applied to them.
Irritated Throat, Mouth, and Lips
Irritated throat, mouth, and lips is a common symptom in Kawasaki disease. The irritation is caused by the deposition of fibrin that causes inflammation. The most prominent symptom associated with this condition is itchiness or burning sensation in your mouth, throat, and lips. Typically prickling sensation or a sense of need itching can be experienced in your mouth or throat. People who get irritated throat, mouth, and skin feel pain from eating certain kinds of food.
Joint Pain
Joint pain is one of the first signs that you can watch out for when dealing with Kawasaki disease in children. It most commonly develops in the small joints of hands and feet, knees and elbows, although less frequently the jaw, hips, shoulder and back can also be affected. It is worth pointing out that although joint pain (arthralgia) takes place in the early stages, some children are just as likely to have joint pain later on during the treatment.
Belly Pain
If you have a child that suffers from Kawasaki disease, then you might be worried about their belly pain. According to the WebMD and Mayo Clinic, most children with Kawasaki disease suffer from abdominal pain. Most children suffering from Kawasaki will get this symptom and nausea in the first 5-6 days, just after becoming ill. Belly pain shouldn’t worry you too much as long as it doesn’t get worse and lead to anything more serious like bleeding from the rectum and vomiting blood. If the abdominal pain becomes worse or goes on for several days, you should consult with your doctor about it.
Peeling skin on hands and feet
Has your child started pulling off his or her skin? Peeling skin as a symptom of Kawasaki disease can be uncomfortable, and even painful. The exact cause of the symptom is unknown. Most physicians and cardiologists think this symptom might be due to changes in skin blood flow or circulation as the body tries to heal itself.
Upset Stomach
Diarrhea or vomiting are very common in people who have Kawasaki disease. Most children with Kawasaki disease will get diarrhea between the 10th and 16th day of getting the rash. The most common cause of vomiting is called Kawasaki syndrome. This happens when the body’s immune system attacks the stomach and small intestine, which causes them to be inflamed. This then blocks food from moving through the intestine properly and slows down how fast food moves through your child’s digestive system.
Irritability and Restlessness
Irritability is a common symptom of Kawasaki disease. It is defined as “excessive irritability”, which is a pretty easy thing to recognize in a child, yet it can still be easily overlooked by parents and doctors who don’t know what to look out for. Symptoms of irritability may include temper tantrums and outbursts, fighting with other children and adults, trouble paying attention or staying still during school activities, whining, complaining, or crying frequently.
Fast heart rate
The heart rate of children with Kawasaki disease usually is fast for the first couple of days. When taken on a daily basis, it can reveal that the heart rate stays fast and does not fluctuate.