Amebic Liver Abscess and Kawasaki Disease
Vijay Viswanathan1, Ishita Singh2, S Sane3
1Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic, Jupiter Hospital, Thane, India. Correspondence to: Dr Vijay Viswanathan, Pediatric Rheumatologist, Jupiter Hospital, Thane 400 601, India. dr_vjay77@yahoo.co.in.
Insights
Amebic hepatitis co-occurring with Kawasaki disease is a rare finding. This report details two pediatric cases successfully treated with immunoglobulins and amebicidal agents, showing complete recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Hepatology
Background:
- Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis primarily affecting children.
- Amebic hepatitis, a liver infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is uncommon in developed countries.
- The co-occurrence of amebic hepatitis and KD has not been previously documented.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients, aged 4 and 5 years, presented with concurrent Kawasaki disease and liver abscesses.
- Clinical management involved intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, with some cases requiring percutaneous drainage.
- A combination of amebicidal agents was administered to treat the amebic liver involvement.
Findings:
- Both children achieved complete resolution of amebic hepatitis.
- Coronary artery abnormalities associated with Kawasaki disease showed normalization and regression during follow-up.
- Successful treatment outcomes were observed for both the infectious and inflammatory components of the disease.
Implications:
- This case series highlights the possibility of amebic hepatitis coexisting with Kawasaki disease in pediatric patients.
- Prompt diagnosis and combined therapeutic strategies are crucial for managing this rare dual condition.
- Further research may elucidate shared risk factors or pathogenetic links between these distinct diseases.
Background:
Co-occurrence of amebic hepatitis and Kawasaki disease has not been reported previously.
Case Characteristics:
We describe two children (aged 4 y and 5 y) with Kawasaki disease and coexisting liver abscess. They were treated with intravenous immunoglobulins with/without percutaneous drainage in combination with amebicidal agents.
Outcome:
Both the children were completely cured of the amebic hepatitis, and had normalization and regression of coronaries at follow-up.
Message:
We report the co-existence of amebic hepatitis with Kawasaki disease.
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