Kawasaki disease in Finland in 1982-1992

Data on patients suffering from Kawasaki disease have been collected prospectively in Finland since 1981. To ascertain the incidence, treatment and outcome in these patients the data were analysed for the 10-year period April 1982 to March 1992. Kawasaki disease was confirmed in 229 patients. The annual attack rate varied from 3.1 to 7.2 per 100,000 children below the age of 5 years. Their mean age was 3.9 years (range: 7 weeks to 39 years). 40% were under 2 years and 71% under 5 years of age. There was 1 adult patient. The male/female ratio was 1.5:1. Coronary artery lesions were found in 28 patients, 2 of whom died of myocardial infarction. Since April 1985, 132 patients (73%) have been treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. When treatment was begun before day 7 of the disease, coronary artery lesions were found in 5.5%; when begun between days 7 and 10, in 12%, and when begun after day 10, in 28% of the patients.