Kawasaki Syndrome
(mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome)

What is Kawasaki syndrome?
Kawasaki syndrome is a serious febrile (fever) illness of unknown origin that mostly affects children under the age of 5 years. In Hawaii, Asians of Japanese and Korean ancestry are at increased risk of getting the disease.

How do you get it?
Because the specific cause of Kawasaki syndrome has not yet been identified, not much is known about the way a person gets the disease or how it is spread. There is no firm evidence for person-to-person spread, although outbreaks of Kawasaki syndrome are consistent with an infectious etiology.

What are the symptoms of Kawasaki syndrome?
Kawasaki syndrome typically occurs in three phases. In the first phase, most patients develop a fever (lasting for 5 to 14 days or more) that does not improve when treated with antibiotics. During this time, a rash develops on the body and reddish discolorations appear on the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. As the illness progresses, the lips become dry and cracked, the tongue appears red ("strawberry tongue"), and lymph nodes in the neck become swollen. The second phase, also called the subacute phase, lasts about 2 weeks, when the fever ends and the tips of the fingers and toes tend to "peel." The third phase is characterized by a long convalescent period when the clinical symptoms gradually fade. Rarely, central nervous system disorders, heart problems, and arthritis problems may develop as complications of Kawasaki syndrome.

When do symptoms start?
The time from exposure to development of symptoms is unknown.

For how long is a person contagious?
The contagious period for Kawasaki syndrome is unknown because an infectious cause has not been identified..

What is the treatment for Kawasaki syndrome?
Because this disease is relatively difficult to diagnose and treat, especially in younger infants, symptomatic children should be promptly seen by a qualified physician. Early detection and treatment reduces the risk of complications associated with the syndrome and improves survival.

How do you keep from getting it?
At this time, preventive measures have not been determined.