Lymph Node Syndrome

 

Everyone has been sick in the household this flu season, first one then the other. About two weeks ago the flu decided to do its worst on my four year old baby girl, or so I thought it was the flu. When the sickness began it seemed like it would last a couple days then it would go away, then it would show its ugly face upon her return to normal daily activities. Finally on the last day of having her fevers come back I of course made an appointment with her pediatrician. The testing began tests for urinary tract infections, the flu and strep throat and to my amazement all those invasive tests were negative.

The last thing the doctor felt it could be is something in the last twenty or more years of child rising, had never heard of, her pediatrician diagnosed her with Kawasaki disease. The medical reasoning behind this diagnosis was determined by high grade fevers lasting one week or more, the pain in discomfort described throughout her body and her tongue resembling a strawberry. The pain this little girl has been feeling throughout her legs and back, according to the doctor and the diseases wrath, feels like what one feels when they have arthritis.

What is Kawasaki Disease?

Known by other names such as, Lymph Node Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that starts taking shape as a systemic necrotizing medium sized vessel vacuities and is widely and commonly seen in children under the age of five. This disease is known to affect a child’s bodily organs including, the blood vessels, skin, immune system, mucous membranes and lymph nodes. Probably the most effected organ that can be affected by this rare disease is the heart, where the condition can cause coronary artery aneurysms. The disease commonly affects children of Asian descent and more commonly in boys. The disease was at one point very rare in the United State, however over the last few decades it has been popping up more frequently. There is now close to 4000 cases a year being documented in the states and studies have no real conclusive answers why. It is thought however the recent rise may be due to environmental attributes.  

When a child is diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease there most likely will have been an underlying viral infection. This viral infection such as, the flu may be playing a role in causing the pathogens that make up this autoimmune disease. Seeable systems include, the mucosa around the eyes and mouth become red and inflamed, the tongue takes on the look of a strawberry, edema may be seen in the feet and hands and a fever will be persistent for one to two weeks. Other notable symptoms include peeling of the skin around the fingernails and complaints of body pain, as well as irritability.  

Complications of Kawasaki disease if not treated can be severe and in some cases fatal. Complications with the heart most importantly and in 18% of the cases the child will end up developing coronary aneurysms. On the good side only 1% of diagnosed children die from this disease and that percentage was calculated with known cases that went untreated.

After the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease the child will need to be hospitalized and under the care of a doctor with extensive knowledge in this area. I.V. immunoglobulin is the most effective treatment and is given in large doses. The treatment usually then goes on to consists of an aspirin regiment where aspirin will be prescribed for several months.