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Is Kawasaki disease incidence rising in Chandigarh, North India?

Surjit Singh1, Roosy Aulakh, Anil Kumar Bhalla

  • 1Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. surjitsinghpgi@rediffmail.com

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|October 7, 2010
PubMed

Insights

The incidence of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Chandigarh, India, has increased significantly between 1994 and 2008. This trend may reflect improved diagnosis or a true rise in pediatric cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Immunology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Kawasaki disease (KD) is a critical pediatric vasculitis.
  • Understanding its incidence is vital for public health.
  • North India's KD epidemiology remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the incidence of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children under 15 in Chandigarh, North India.
  • To analyze trends in KD incidence from 1994 to 2008.
  • To identify demographic and seasonal patterns of KD in the region.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of KD cases from 1994-2008 at a tertiary care center.
  • Inclusion criteria: children <15 years diagnosed per American Heart Association guidelines.
  • Calculation of yearly incidence rates for Chandigarh residents.

Main Results:

  • 196 KD cases identified; 80 (40.8%) were Chandigarh residents.
  • Increasing incidence observed, from 0.51/100,000 in 1994 to 4.54/100,000 in 2007.
  • Most cases in children ≤10 years; peaks in October and May; low coronary artery abnormality (CAA) rate (5%).

Conclusions:

  • The rising incidence of KD in Chandigarh warrants further investigation.
  • Potential factors include increased physician awareness or an actual disease increase.
  • Unique epidemiological features (older median age, low CAA, bimodal seasonality) offer insights into KD's etiology.
Abstract

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