Pre-hospital recognition of Kawaski disease: a guide for paramedics

Affecting children, predominantly those under the age of five, Kawaski disease (KD) is one of the main causes of heart abnormalities in children in the UK and USA—older children and teenagers can also contract KD, though such cases are very rare. KD promotes virus–like symptoms which can lead to inflammation in the blood vessels, arteries, veins and capillaries of the patient. Although there has been extensive research into this potentially fatal illness, the cause is still unknown, despite many hypotheses having been put forward over the years.

Statistics show that approximately eight in 100 000 children have Kawasaki disease (KD) within the UK, with the majority of cases being in boys (BUPA, 2010). Affecting children under the age of five, KD is one of the main causes of heart abnormalities in children in the UK and USA (Brogan et al, 2002), although older children and teenagers can contract KD, though such cases are very rare (Kawasaki Disease foundation, 2012).