Profile of Children with Kawasaki Disease Associated with Tropical Infections

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile illness primarily affecting young children.
• Identifying infectious triggers for KD is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.
• Previous studies have explored KD etiology, but data from India remains limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and identify various infectious triggers associated with Kawasaki disease in Indian children.
• To highlight the spectrum of infections preceding KD diagnosis in this population.

Main Methods:

• A case series of 10 children diagnosed with Kawasaki disease was retrospectively analyzed.
• Diagnosis of KD followed the American Heart Association (AHA) 2017 guidelines.
• Echocardiography was performed to assess for coronary artery abnormalities; treatment followed standard protocols.

Main Results:

• Kawasaki disease was diagnosed in 10 children (8 boys, 2 girls) aged 1 month to 11 years.
• These children had preceding or concurrent infections including dengue, chikungunya, SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, brucellosis, staphylococcal sepsis, scrub typhus, and enteric fever.
• Coronary artery dilation was assessed via echocardiography, and treatment was initiated per standard guidelines.

Conclusions:

• Kawasaki disease in India is associated with a diverse range of infectious triggers.
• KD should be considered in febrile children presenting with mucocutaneous involvement.
• The possibility of KD must be evaluated in cases of non-responsive sepsis, even with appropriate treatment.