From the Guidelines
Kawasaki disease predominantly affects children under 5 years of age, with the majority of cases occurring in this age group. The peak incidence is in children between 1 and 2 years old, and the disease is relatively rare in infants under 3 months and in children over 8 years old 1.
Key Characteristics of Kawasaki Disease
- Boys are affected more frequently than girls, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1.5:1 1.
- The disease is uncommon in adults, though rare cases have been reported 1.
- This age distribution pattern is consistent across different geographic regions and ethnic groups, although the overall incidence varies by population 1.
Clinical Implications
The specific age predilection suggests that developmental factors in the immune system may play a role in susceptibility to Kawasaki disease, as younger children with developing immune systems appear more vulnerable to the inflammatory cascade that characterizes this condition 1.
- The age distribution also helps clinicians consider Kawasaki disease in their differential diagnosis when evaluating young children with prolonged fever and other compatible symptoms 1.
- Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial to reduce the risk of coronary artery complications, which can have significant implications for morbidity, mortality, and quality of life 1.
From the Research
Age Distribution of Kawasaki Disease
- Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis that mainly affects children, with a specific predilection for the coronary arteries 2.
- The disease predominantly affects children less than 5 years of age 3.
- KD is the leading cause of childhood-acquired heart disease in the developed world, affecting previously healthy young infants and children 2.
- The age distribution of Kawasaki disease is characterized by a peak incidence in children under 5 years old, with the majority of cases occurring in children between 1 and 3 years old, although the exact age distribution is not specified in the provided studies 3, 4, 5, 6.
Key Characteristics
- The disease is characterized by fever, chapped lips, strawberry tongue, red eyes, rash, redness, swollen hands and feet or skin peeling, and enlarged cervical lymph nodes 4.
- The most feared complication of KD is coronary artery abnormality development, which can occur in patients with typical or atypical KD 3.
- Prompt treatment within 10 days of symptom onset has been shown to improve clinical outcomes and reduce the risk of coronary artery complications 2.
Treatment and Management
- Standard initial therapy for KD includes intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and aspirin, with corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive therapies used in certain cases 2, 5, 6.
- The role of corticosteroids and aspirin in the treatment of acute Kawasaki disease is a matter of ongoing debate, with recent studies providing new evidence to guide treatment decisions 5.