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Kawasaki disease
- Cardiac specialists dedicated to paediatric care
- See a consultant in as little as 24 hours
- Multi-skilled teams delivering wrap-around support
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Kawasaki disease at HCA UK
Why choose us?
When it comes to your child’s health, you need to know they’ll be in the very safest hands. Heart conditions are always worrying in children and this rare condition, while perfectly treatable, can be very serious. It’s important that your child receives treatment early so that they can make a full recovery.
With HCA UK, your child will be supported by an exceptional team of paediatric cardiologists, clinical nurse specialist and medica experts who work closely to offer all the personalised treatment and wrap-around support your child and family need. Bringing together outstanding experience in the field of paediatric health, you can look forward to the very best possible outcomes.
Kawasaki disease is a rare condition that affects boys more than girls, most often in children under five years of age. It causes high fever, enlarged lymph glands and swollen blood vessels and can also affect the heart, so it’s really important to get early help.
If left untreated, Kawasaki disease can cause coronary artery aneurysms, leakage of heart valves and an accumulation of fluid around the heart called pericardial effusion.
If you suspect Kawasaki disease, it should always be treated as a medical emergency requiring urgent care. Call 999 or request immediate medical help.
It’s not known what causes Kawasaki disease in children. It may be an inflammatory syndrome or an immune system reaction to a non-contagious infection or other cause. Kawasaki disease is 1.5 times more common in boys than girls.
The main symptoms to look out for are:
- A high temperature that lasts for more than five days
- Rashes on various parts of the body
- Swollen glands in the neck
- Red cracked lips and swollen tongue
- Red fingers, toes or eyes
- Painful joints
Important: Kawasaki disease is a medical emergency. If your child is showing the above symptoms, it’s important to call 999 or request immediate medical help.
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Kawasaki disease tests and scans
Getting a fast, accurate diagnosis
While there is no definitive test to confirm if a child has Kawasaki disease, your consultant will most likely eliminate other diseases first, using a range of tests. Your consultant may use the following diagnostic tests based on your child’s condition and symptoms:
- Measuring pulse, blood pressure, temperature and the number of breaths your child takes per minute
- Listening with a stethoscope for changes in the sounds of your child’s heart
- Checking the blood for markers of inflammation
- An electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the electrical activity of the heart
- A CT scan or MRI of your child’s heart may also be helpful. This allows the consultant to look at their heart chambers and coronary arteries in more detail.
Kawasaki disease treatments at HCA UK
Specialist advice and compassionate care
Our focus with Kawasaki is on treating the cause of the infection or inflammation and preventing any damage to your child’s heart. With early treatment, most children will make a full recovery. Your consultant may offer any of the following treatments:
- An infusion of antibodies called intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)
- High doses of aspirin until the high temperature and acute illness has settled
- Low doses of aspirin as follow-up treatment
- Anticoagulant (anti-clotting) medicines for children who develop coronary artery aneurysms
Your child will benefit from the most experienced consultants in the field of paediatric cardiology, and the very best care from a team of multidisciplinary medical professionals.
What’s more, you’ll have a single, reassuring and informed point of contact, with full wrap-around support ongoing care.
Accessing private health care
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.
FAQs
The expected outcome for most cases is very good with a full recovery expected within six to eight weeks.
Because of the seriousness of the condition, it’s important to get medical advice as quickly as possible. Without treatment, some children will develop heart symptoms which need to be treated as soon as possible. However, with early detection and appropriate treatment, most children will fully recover from Kawasaki disease.
The exact causes of Kawasaki disease are not know. We believe there is a genetic element, with certain DNA changes a possible cause, however it’s not yet known which genes are responsible.
It may also be a reaction to infection, causing the immune system to attack the heart and blood vessels, and create an inflammatory response.
Kawasaki disease is quite rare. However, for children under five in the UK, Kawasaki disease is one of the main causes of heart disease.
If you suspect Kawasaki disease you should call 999 or consult a medical professional immediately.
Our patients' stories
Treating Helaina's heart rhythm disorder
Helaina from Northamptonshire was just 16 when she began experiencing unusual symptoms, including shortness of breath and heart palpitations, which rapidly worsened. She was otherwise fit, healthy and a huge lover of the great outdoors, leading to her family to grow concerned.
Joel’s heart surgery
Joel's parents thought he just had a cold. When it turned out he needed a serious operation, The Harley Street Clinic helped him make a full recovery.
Solving Alex’s undiagnosed heart condition
At the age of 12, dancer Alex Brookes began experiencing irregular heart palpations. After initially being told it was nothing to worry about, her symptoms persisted and her mum decided it was best to seek medical advice and chose The Portland Hospital.
“It was the best decision we ever made. Almost as soon as the anaesthetic from the surgery wore off, she was back to her usual happy self.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.