The Kawasaki Disease Foundation posts that this childhood illness currently affects more than 4,200 children per year and is the leading cause of early life-acquired heart conditions. The onset generally occurs among boys of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry within the first five years of life, yet can be seen in especially rare cases of females, other ancestral backgrounds, school-aged children and adolescents.
Viral Infection
The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute's December 2009 article, "What is Kawasaki Disease?" categorizes this disorder as a form of vasculitis, or a state of chronic inflammation in the blood vessels. While it affects all blood vessel types (i.e., arteries, veins and capillaries), the heart muscle can become irreversibly damaged in the process.
Researchers are still unsure as to the exact viral infection that causes Kawasaki disease. Cardiologists from the Texas Heart Institute suggest that the virus is a mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome that can cause aneurysm (pressure due to blood passing swiftly through the arteries), heart attack (a reaction to blocked arteries), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), pericarditis (inflammation of the sac which surrounds the heart), or arrhythmia (a condition in which the heart beats in an abnormal pattern).
Autoimmune Disorder
The Kawasaki Disease Foundation suggests that the symptoms related are indicative of an autoimmune disorder (i.e., mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome), creating a chronic state of inflammation and immunosuppression (deceased immunity due to the body trying to fight off the viral infection). This disease presents a host of symptoms resulting from lab results indicating an immune system deficiency, high grade fevers lasting for several days, rash located in the trunk region, edema in the lower extremities, irritation and redness of the eyes and tongue, visibly swollen lymph glands in the neck, and significant inflammation and irritation to the mouth, lips and throat.
Unknown Factors
Several unknown factors still remain with the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease. This disease is neither genetic nor communicable to others. It is known that the disease originates from a viral infection, yet the source of this infection is still unknown. Research continues on this disease, and perhaps the application of time and persistence will provide the answers to these questions in the years to come.
