Be Aware About The Kawasaki Disease
Be Aware About The Kawasaki Disease
Kawasaki disease is not a very common heard disease. It is said that on an average there are 15 cases in one year and that too world wide. This disease is rare and it leads to inflammation of the walls of small and medium sized arteries all through the body. The coronary arteries that is, the arteries which send blood to our heart also get affected. Mostly it is children under the age of five who get affected. But this does not mean that older children do not get affected. One needs to be aware of the existence of the Kawasaki disease as if untreated, the disease can claim your life.
At present scientists have not been able to identify a cause for the disease. Also there is no test which you can undergo to find out if your child has the disease. The only way that diagnosis can be done is by looking at the symptoms. If your child is in the first phase of the disease he will have fever for one to two week. Also you may see your child having very red eyes, rashes on his body and genital region. He will have cracked red and dry lips and swollen skin on the hands and feet. The second phase is characterized by diarrhea, pain in the joints, pain in the abdomen, vomiting and also peeling of the skin on the feet and hands.
If your child is in the third phase then you have to admit him to a hospital. The treatment can only be done by expert and trained hospital staff. Usually a gamma globulin infusion is given and also high does of aspirin. The aspirin helps to cure the inflammation. If you are treating your child for fever which is not getting cured, try and contact the hospital without waiting much. Many times doctors have not been able to figure out the Kawasaki disease. The misdiagnosis is one reason why treatment for the disease gets delayed.

