Kawasaki disease: an evidence based approach to diagnosis, treatment, and proposals for future research

Abstract

This article proposes a clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki disease in the UK based on the best available evidence to date, and highlights areas of practice where evidence is anecdotal or based on retrospective data. Future research as proposed by the London Kawasaki Disease Research Group is outlined, and clinicians are invited to prospectively enroll their suspected cases into this collaborative research project.

Figure 1

Recommended clinical guideline for the management of KD in the UK. *Treatment can be commenced before full 5 days of fever if sepsis excluded; treatment should also be given if the presentation is >10 days from fever onset. **Incomplete cases >1 year old treated at discretion of clinician—seek expert advice. †Refer to paediatric cardiologist. ‡Other specific interventions such as positron emission tomography scanning, addition of calcium channel blocker therapy, and coronary angioplasty at discretion of paediatric cardiologist.