Kawasaki disease presenting with intussusception: a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

• Intussusception is a common cause of abdominal pain in young children.
• Kawasaki disease is an acute febrile vasculitis affecting medium-sized arteries, primarily in children.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease are crucial to prevent coronary artery abnormalities.

Observation:

• A 3-year-old boy presented with symptoms of intussusception, including abdominal pain, fever, and red jelly stools.
• Intussusception was successfully treated with air insufflation.
• Despite initial improvement, the child developed persistent fever and remained unwell.

Findings:

• Five days post-intussusception reduction, the child exhibited characteristic signs of Kawasaki disease.
• The patient received intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose aspirin, leading to a favorable outcome.
• This case represents a previously undescribed presentation of Kawasaki disease preceding typical symptoms.

Implications:

• This case highlights a novel temporal association between intussusception and Kawasaki disease.
• It suggests that intussusception may unmask or precede the development of Kawasaki disease in some children.
• Clinicians should consider Kawasaki disease in the differential diagnosis for children with unexplained fever following intussusception.