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Clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease according to age at diagnosis

Seong Hyun Kim1, Ki Hwan Kim, Dong Soo Kim

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Severance Childrens Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.

Indian Pediatrics
|July 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This study found that the clinical and laboratory features of Kawasaki disease (KD) are similar across different age groups. This suggests age does not significantly alter the presentation of KD in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Rheumatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is a critical pediatric illness affecting blood vessels.
  • Typical age of KD diagnosis is between 6 months and 5 years.
  • Understanding KD presentation in atypical age groups is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic features of Kawasaki disease (KD) in infants (<6 months) and older children (>5 years) versus the typical age group (6 months-5 years).

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 185 children diagnosed with KD.
  • Patients were categorized into three age groups: <6 months, 6 months-5 years, and >5 years.
  • Comparison of clinical, hematological, biochemical features, coronary artery involvement, and KD classification (Classic vs. Incomplete).

Main Results:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) was diagnosed in 185 children: 12% (<6 months), 71% (6 months-5 years), and 17% (>5 years).
  • Clinical, hematological, and biochemical features were comparable across all age groups.
  • Coronary artery lesions occurred in 9% of children, with no significant age-related preference. The proportion of Classic versus Incomplete KD was also similar across age groups.

Conclusions:

  • The clinical and laboratory phenotype of Kawasaki disease (KD) does not significantly vary with age.
  • These findings suggest that diagnostic criteria and management approaches for KD can be consistently applied across different pediatric age groups.
Abstract

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