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Acute Kawasaki disease: not just for kids
Anne E Wolff1, Karen E Hansen, Laura Zakowski
1St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Insights
Kawasaki Disease, a vasculitis typically seen in children, can affect adults with different symptoms. Early recognition and treatment with aspirin and IVIG are crucial for managing this condition in adults.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Pediatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Kawasaki Disease is a rare but serious condition causing inflammation in blood vessels.
- While predominantly affecting children, it can occur in adults, often with atypical presentations.
Observation:
- Adults with Kawasaki Disease frequently exhibit cervical adenopathy, hepatitis, and arthralgia.
- Compared to children, adults show lower rates of meningitis, thrombocytosis, and coronary artery aneurysms.
Findings:
- A 24-year-old male presented with acute Kawasaki Disease symptoms including rash, fever, and arthritis.
- The patient responded well to treatment with high-dose aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).
Implications:
- This case underscores the need to consider Kawasaki Disease in adult patients presenting with common symptoms.
- Increased awareness can lead to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes for adult Kawasaki Disease patients.
Abstract:
Kawasaki Disease is a small-to-medium-vessel vasculitis that preferentially affects children. Kawasaki Disease can occur in adults, but the presentation may differ from that observed in children. Typical findings in both adults and children include fever, conjunctivitis, pharyngitis, and skin erythema progressing to a desquamating rash on the palms and soles. Adults more frequently present with cervical adenopathy (93% of adults vs. 15% of children), hepatitis (65% vs. 10%), and arthralgia (61% vs. 24-38%). In contrast, adults are less frequently affected by meningitis (10% vs. 34%), thrombocytosis (55% vs. 100%), and coronary artery aneurysms (5% vs. 18-25%). We report a case of acute Kawasaki Disease in a 24-year-old man who presented with rash, fever, and arthritis. He was successfully treated with high-dose aspirin and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). Our case highlights the importance of considering Kawasaki Disease in adults presenting with symptoms commonly encountered in a general medical practice.
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