Kawasaki Disease – Pearls and Pitfalls

Dr Katie Knight, with advice kindly given by Dr James Seddon, Paediatric ID Consultant

January 2017

Once seen, never forgotten – but still a diagnosis that can be easily missed. Kawasaki disease is reasonably uncommon, and that ‘textbook’ case of a miserable child, five days febrile and bright red all over, ticking all the Kawasaki boxes, is even more uncommon. Here is a short guide to the ins and outs of Kawasaki disease, including some common pitfalls to avoid when diagnosing and managing this potentially devastating condition.