Kawasaki disease is an inflammatory disease that can cause long-term complications in the heart. The disease often experienced by children under the age of 5 is initially attacking the mouth, skin, and lymph nodes.
Children who suffer from Kawasaki disease will experience a fever lasting more than 3 days and a red skin rash is almost all over the body.
To prevent inflammation of the walls of the heart’s blood vessels, Kawasaki disease needs to be treated immediately as soon as symptoms arise. With early handling, children with Kawasaki disease can heal in total in 6 to 8 weeks.
Kawasaki Disease Symptoms
The symptoms of Kawasaki disease appear in three phases, and last for approximately 1.5 months. The following Explanation:
First Stage
The first stage occurs at Week 1 to Week 2. At this stage, the symptoms are:
- Fever that lasts for more than 3 days.
- The lips and tongue are dry, reddish, and cracked.
- A reddish rash appears in almost all parts of the body.
- The palms and feet swell, and blush.
- Eyes are flushed, without liquid discharge.
- Appears lumps in the neck due to swollen lymph nodes.
Second Stage
Symptoms in the second stage appear during the 2nd week of the 4th week. Symptoms in the second stage are:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Headaches
- Body feeling tired
- Pain and swelling of the joints
- Skin on fingers and toes peeling
- Skin and white part of eyes appear to be yellow
- There is pus in urine
Third Stage
The third stage occurs in the 4th week until the 6th week, marked by starting to relief the symptoms. However, the child’s condition is still faint and easy to get tired. It took at least 8 weeks until the child’s condition returned to normal.
Kawasaki Disease Risk Factors
Some of the following factors can make a person susceptible to Kawasaki disease, among others:
- Boys are more susceptible to this disease than girls.
- Ages six months to five years are more vulnerable than children in other age groups.
- Ethnic Asian.
Causes and risk factors for Kawasaki disease
To date, the cause of the Kawasaki disease is still not clearly known. However, some theories have stated that this Kawasaki disease occurs due to a bacterial or viral infection that preceded two weeks to a month before the onset.
Diagnosis of Kawasaki disease
Diagnosis is enforced based on anamnesis and physical examination. Generally, before a doctor establishes a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, the doctor will eliminate the possibility of other diseases before enforcing the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease, such as:
- Scarlet fever.
- Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.
- Steven-Johnson syndrome.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome.
- Measles disease.
There is no blood laboratory examination that can be definitively used to diagnose Kawasaki disease. Most other supporting examinations will be used to eliminate a possible diagnosis of other disease conditions.
Kawasaki disease Treatment
Complications can be prevented by immediately conducting proper treatment. If the mother finds a child experiencing symptoms related to this viral infection, immediately take the child to the hospital to get treatment.
Then, how was Kawasaki disease handled? Here are some ways:
Eliminate fever in children
The first treatment in a Kawasaki disease is relieving fever. The reason, fever does not only a bad impact on Kawasaki disease, but can trigger other health problems, one of which is a seizure. Mothers can make sure that the child gets enough fluid intake to avoid dehydration. Avoid also clothed in thick clothes that triggered a lot of sweat.
Using drugs
To reduce the occurrence of complications, the doctor will immediately advise the treatment of Kawasaki disease as soon as possible, especially when your child is still experiencing fever.
The main goal of treatment is to minimize the risk of heart damage, as well as to reduce symptoms such as inflammation and fever.
The main treatment usually given by the doctor is infusion immunoglobulin and aspirin. Here’s an explanation:
Immunoglobulin (IVIG)
The doctor will provide immunoglobulin treatment through the vein (infusion). This treatment can help lower the risk of coronary artery and heart problems as much as 20%.
Aspirin
Aspirin with certain dosages may help treat inflammatory or inflammation. Aspirin can also help reduce pain and arthritis, including lowering fever.
Administering aspirin in children is only allowed in the case of the disease, and of course in the recommendation or prescription of the physician.
In addition, when there is a flu outbreak or chickenpox, children undergoing treatment with aspirin have the risk of Reye’s syndrome. To prevent this, the doctor will recommend an annual influenza vaccination, as well as the possibility of replacing aspirin with Dipyridamole.
Give children breast milk
Giving milk to children after birth provides many benefits for maternal and child health. Infants who consume exclusive breast milk have better antibodies and immunity than children who do not consume breast milk exclusively. Consuming breast milk also grows a good bacteria that is essential for enhancing immunity so that babies are spared from the risk of Kawasaki virus.
Read also: Baby Heart Rate: What is The Normal or Fast Conditions?
