Pattern of clinical features of Kawasaki disease.

OBJECTIVE

To study the pattern of clinical features, complications, and outcome of Kawasaki disease among Saudi children.

METHODS

Medical records and referral letters of all children (1997 through to 2001) diagnosed with Kawasaki disease were reviewed. This study was carried out at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Collected data included clinical features, laboratory results, echocardiogram findings, therapy, complications and outcome.

RESULTS

Thirteen children (10 boys, 3 girls) were reviewed, age range from 0.3 to 7 years (mean 3.4 years). Nine patients met 5 out of 6 criteria for the diagnoses of Kawasaki disease and 4 met 4 out of 6 criteria and coronary aneurysm. Thirteen patients had fever and skin rash for more than 5 days, 12 had extremity and oral mucus changes, 9 had bilateral conjunctivitis, and 7 had cervical lymph node enlargement. Other associated clinical features include diarrhea, and aseptic meningitis in 3 patients, ischemia of the fingers and toes in 2, arthritis in 2, arthralgia in one, seizure and pneumonia in one. Hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia and elevated liver enzymes in one, hepatomegaly and normal liver enzymes in 2 patients. Cardiac complication seen in 4 patients (30%), all of them were boys, 3 had coronary artery aneurysm (4-7 mm) and one had giant aneurysm (9mm), one of the 3 patients had axillary and subclavian artery aneurysm as well. Two out 4 patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and aspirin within 10 days of illness and one was treated on day 21 and one was treated with aspirin alone. Aneurysmal changes persisted in 3 patients and resolved in one patient who was treated early. Extra-cardiac complications include reaction to intravenous immunoglobulin, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, hemophagocytic syndrome and ischemia of peripheral extremities.

CONCLUSIONS

Our observation showed a high percentage (30%) of coronary aneurysm and unusual complications, this is most likely due to delay in the diagnosis and initiation of treatment.