[Epidemiologic features of Kawasaki disease]

Nationwide surveys on Kawasaki disease have been conducted since 1970, 3 years after Dr. Kawasaki' s first original article, and the newest one was the 19th, of which target patients were affected in 2005 and 2006. The yearly number of patients has reached over 10,000, and the annual incidence rate was 181.1 per 100,000 children aged 0-4 years in 2006, which was higher than those in 1979 and 1986 with nationwide epidemics of the disease. There remain several epidemiologic issues on this disease, including long-term prognosis of the patients; therefore, epidemiologic researches should be continued, especially continuing the nationwide surveys and follow-ups, preparing for epidemics, treating for new etiologic theories, and surveys in countries where no patients have been reported.