Awareness Day Statement

Our International Kawasaki Disease Awareness Day statement! Read below or download it here

New research shows a growing risk from Kawasaki Disease – UK hospital admissions are rising fast and a growing number are being admitted to hospital with serious heart damage after earlier Kawasaki Disease

KEY MESSAGES 

  • UK hospital admissions for Kawasaki Disease have increased rapidly over the past decade
  • Low awareness of Kawasaki Disease means it’s often misdiagnosed, putting children’s hearts at risk of lifetime damage
  • Rapid rise in admissions for those with heart complications due to childhood Kawasaki Disease now being seen
  • We NEED people to KNOW the signs and symptoms of Kawasaki Disease so children can be diagnosed and treated rapidly – to reduce the risk of lifelong heart damage
  • Kawasaki Disease is the #1 cause of acquired heart disease in children in the UK

Analysis of newly released NHS data (1) shows the number of admissions for Kawasaki Disease has continually increased over the past decade –an alarming trend, with 50% more admissions to hospital with Kawasaki Disease than this time 10 years ago and a 40% increase in number of children being admitted for Kawasaki Disease. In 2023/2034 there were over 1,500 hospital admissions for Kawasaki Disease in the UK compared to 989 admissions in 2013/2014 in contrast with a declining birth rate (2 ) and falling numbers of children in the UK.(3) The same data shows that a rising number of patients are also being admitted because of complications from heart damage, in the months and years after diagnosis.

Many of these patients will have suffered heart damage due to a delay in initial diagnosis and treatment of Kawasaki Disease. That’s lifelong, serious heart damage in children which could have been prevented with better awareness of this devastating disease.  It is vital that doctors and families are aware of the signs and symptoms of Kawasaki Disease and are ready to act, FAST!

Rachael McCormack, Founder of Societi said: “This new analysis is potentially transformational and we’re so grateful to NHS Digital for providing us with such a rich dataset. We can immediately see that more and more children are being affected by this sinister disease.  That’s despite improving levels of awareness in doctors and knowledge increasing – showing MORE must be done to get Kawasaki Disease known, urgently.  I’m shocked to see a very worrying number of children and young adults suffering from the heart complications Kawasaki Disease often causes, now also being seen in hospital, in the months and years after diagnosis. It’s a growing, serious problem and action is needed – now.

We need ALL families and doctors to KNOW Kawasaki Disease, so we can turn the tide and reduce the unacceptably high number of children suffering the devastating effect of serious, lifelong heart damage.”

Professor Robert Tulloh, Chair of Societi Foundation and an expert in Kawasaki Disease said “With such a concerning trend of rising admissions and lifelong heart damage for such a vast number now, action to get this disease better recognised is overdue – this must change.  Early diagnosis and rapid treatment reduces the risk of serious heart damage in children affected by Kawasaki Disease. It’s time for a step change in awareness.

The information that Societi is sharing about Kawasaki Disease will help families recognise when their poorly child might be suffering from Kawasaki Disease. Only by all UK families and doctors being familiar with Kawasaki Disease, will we see a reduction in the rate of heart damage in children.”

What are the symptoms?

Kawasaki Disease always presents with a persistent fever of 5 days or more. There are some other symptoms which might appear, and which can be helpful to doctors when diagnosing Kawasaki Disease. Sometimes these symptoms might come and go quickly and appear at different times, but it is important to tell your doctor if you see them.  Some symptoms may not appear at all, but if a child has any two of the following symptoms, along with a persistent high fever for 5 days, please THINK Kawasaki Disease.

  • A rash
  • Red, bloodshot eyes (not sticky, like conjunctivitis)
  • Sore lips, mouth and a “strawberry” tongue
  • Red swollen fingers and toes, which might be tender to touch
  • Swollen glands in the neck – often just on one side.

The majority of poorly children will NOT have Kawasaki Disease – the important thing is to KNOW Kawasaki Disease so you can THINK Kawasaki Disease when it matters.

 

References

  1. Hospital Episode Statistics – NHS Digital https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-tools-and-services/data-services/hospital-episode-statistics
  2. How is the fertility rate changing in England and Wales? – Office for National Statistics
  3. Population of young children (aged 0-4) in the United Kingdom from 1971 to 2023. Statista UK young children population 2023 | Statista