[Study on the epidemiological features of Kawasaki disease in Jiangsu]

To investigate the incidence of Kawasaki disease and epidemiological characteristics in Jiangsu province.

Questionnaire and diagnostic guidelines for Kawasaki disease with color - printed photographs of typical clinical symptoms were sent to all county hospitals with pediatric beds. All the in - patients with Kawasaki disease hospitalized from January, 1993 to December, 1997 were studied regarding age, sex, season of illness, cardiac sequelae, outcome etc.

There were 509 cases (329 males and 180 females) diagnosed with 489 cases (96%) clinically typical. The incidence of the 5 - year period was averaged 2.53 per 100,000 children under 5. The number of male patients with Kawasaki disease was higher than that in female. The age peak of incidence was between 6 month and 2 - year olds. 13.6% of all cases developed cardiac sequelae which mostly occurred in males and in those younger than 2 years of age. There was one patient recurred among total patients reported (recurrence rate 0.2%) and 2 patients died (fatality rate 0.4%).

The epidemiological characteristics of Kawasaki disease in Jiangsu province were similar to those in Japan in sex, season distribution and cardiac sequelae. The number of patients in male was higher than in female. Patients were more commonly seen in spring than in winter. However, the incidence rate in Jiangsu was significantly lower than that in Japan and the age peak was between 6 month and 2 years old.