Infection
No specific infection has been linked to Kawasaki disease, despite a variety of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens having been investigated. There are a few soft signs that indicate an infectious aetiology is possible3,5.
- Consistent peak in the number of cases reported in winter months, when childhood infections are at their most prevalent
- Temporal clusters of epidemics reported in Japan, North America and other countries
- Significant overlap of clinical features between Kawasaki disease and other infectious pathologies
There is no evidence that vaccine administration during childhood triggers Kawasaki disease7-10.
Learning Bite
28% of affected children will develop heart damage and 19% will have lasting coronary artery aneurysms.