Kawasaki disease, also known as infantile polyarteritis, is a disease that causes inflammation of arteries throughout the body. In the U.S., kawasaki is the second leading cause of heart disease in children, according to PubMed Health, a National Institutes of Health website. Kawasaki causes inflammation of heart muscles and blood vessels, which can lead to cardiovascular problems such as aneurysm and heart attack. Fish oil may help treat kawasaki disease.
Fish Oil and Kawasaki Disease
Fish oil can help decrease inflammation caused by kawasaki disease. Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help decrease inflammation throughout the body, according to MayoClinic.com. Fish oil also reduces the risk of dying from heart disease. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, trout and mackerel.
Fish Oil Supplements
Fish supplements are usually made from fatty fish, such as mackerel, cod liver, whale blubber, salmon, halibut and tuna, according to Medline Plus, a National Institutes of Health website. Vitamin E is also added to prevent spoilage. Fish oil supplements can be given to children who are unable to eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Common side effects of fish oil include heartburn, nausea, bad breath and belching.
Dangers of Fish Oil in Children
Fish oil supplements and fatty fish contain mercury, which can hinder proper development of the brain and central nervous system and lead to mental retardation and neurological problems in children. Children under the age of 12 should eat not more than 340 g of fish per week, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Symptoms of Kawasaki
Symptoms of kawasaki disease appear in phases, according to PubMed Health. During phase one of the disease, children experience symptoms such as high fever, red eyes with a thick discharge, rash on the trunk and in the genitals, swollen lymph nodes, red dry cracked lips, red swollen tongue and irritability. In the second phase, children may develop abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, peeling of the skin and joint pain.
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