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Published on: April 7, 2015

Bacterial endocarditis and lymphadenopathy mimicking Kawasaki disease

S Cullen, O C Ward, B Denham

    Irish Medical Journal
    |February 1, 1989
    PubMed

    Insights

    Kawasaki disease mimics can be serious. Two children initially diagnosed with Kawasaki disease were later found to have acute bacterial endocarditis and lymphoma, highlighting diagnostic challenges.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Oncology

    Background:

    • Kawasaki disease is a critical pediatric illness requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
    • Accurate diagnosis is essential to prevent severe complications.
    • Differential diagnosis for febrile illnesses in children is broad.

    Observation:

    • Two pediatric patients presented with symptoms consistent with Kawasaki disease.
    • Initial clinical presentation met diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease.
    • Further investigations revealed alternative serious underlying conditions.

    Findings:

    • One child was diagnosed with acute bacterial endocarditis.
    • The second child had acute bacterial endocarditis and disseminated non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
    • These cases underscore the possibility of misdiagnosis.

    Implications:

    • Emphasizes the critical need to exclude other diagnoses presenting similarly to Kawasaki disease.
    • Highlights the importance of strict adherence to established diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease.
    • Suggests a need for heightened clinical suspicion for alternative diagnoses in atypical presentations.

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