NYT Cases of this rare, potentially dangerous childhood illness are growing in the U.S. It is often mistaken for scarlet fever, tick-borne diseases or common viruses. Here’s what to look for.
Doctors across the United States are seeing a rise in Kawasaki disease, a mysterious condition that primarily affects children under 5. The illness is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children worldwide but it is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed.
Kawasaki disease is rare, but cases are climbing in the United States. Here are the important things to know about Kawasaki disease.
What to look for
Kawasaki disease is marked by a high fever that lasts more than five days, a swollen lymph node on the neck and everything red: swollen red hands and feet, red “strawberry tongue,” red cracked lips and other red rashes. Often, patients eventually experience skin peeling on the hands and feet. One of the betraying signs of Kawasaki disease is very bloodshot eyes.
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