Preventing Long-Term Cardiac Damage in Pediatric Patients With Kawasaki Disease

Abstract

Kawasaki disease is currently the leading cause of long-term cardiac damage in pediatric patients in the United States. Kawasaki disease is diagnosed based on symptomatology and by ruling out other etiology. There is a significant need for an improved, standardized treatment protocol for patients diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and a more rapid initiation of treatment for these patients. Decreasing the cardiac damage caused by Kawasaki disease with timely diagnosis and treatment needs be a principal goal.

Keywords: Cardiac damage; Kawasaki disease; coronary artery aneurysm; fever; pediatrics.