Kawasaki disease: a 'new' pediatric enigma

More than 250 cases of this puzzling illness, first described in Japan a decade ago, have now been reported in the United States. The etiology, epidemiology, and true incidence remain to be determined. But since some 2% of victims develop severe cardiac complications and some may die suddenly months after apparent complete recovery, pediatricians must now consider this entity in the differential diagnosis of protracted, febrile illness.