KAWASAKI DISEASE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: A Bengaluru-based doctor recently reported a rise in Kawasaki disease cases among children following the devastating second wave of COVID-19.

Kawasaki Disease

• About: It is a pediatric illness characterized by inflammation of blood vessels, primarily affecting young children, and is a significant cause of heart disease in this demographic.
• Also known as: Mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.
• First time described: Japanese pediatrician Tomisaku Kawasaki in 1967.
• Risk factors: 
• Age. Children under 5 years old are at highest risk of Kawasaki disease.
• Sex. Children who are assigned male at birth are slightly more likely to get Kawasaki disease.
• Ethnicity. Children of Asian or Pacific Islander descent have higher rates of Kawasaki disease.
• Causes: The disease can lead to inflammation of coronary arteries and affect various body parts like lymph nodes, skin, and mucous membranes. 
• Its exact cause remains unidentified, with potential links to genetics, viruses, bacteria, and environmental factors.
• Symptoms: Prolonged high fever, rash, peeling skin on extremities, swelling, redness, eye inflammation, swollen glands, and distinctive oral manifestations like "strawberry tongue."
• Treatment: Intravenous gamma globulin (IVIG), which is an infusion through your child's IV and high-dose aspirin every six hours.

Study on New Syndrome

• A 2022 study published in the Frontiers in Pediatrics journal explored the impact of COVID-19 on children.
• Discovery of MIS-C: The study identified a new syndrome called multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C), reported by the WHO and CDC.
• Differences from KD: MIS-C is more frequently associated with left ventricular dysfunction (30%–40%), shock, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological symptoms compared to KD.
• Unique Characteristics: KD that follows SARS-CoV-2 infection shows distinct clinical differences from traditional Kawasaki disease.