Pitfalls
- Kawasaki disease is generally considered a rare disease however it is increasingly common with more hospital admissions than measles or bacterial meningitis.
- A high index of suspicion is warranted in all children with prolonged fever.
- The clinical principal features may have appeared and disappeared at the time of assessment.
- A concurrent infection does not exclude Kawasaki disease. Respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, metapneumovirus, coronaviruses, parainfluenza viruses, or influenza viruses have been shown to co-exist with Kawasaki disease
- Desquamation of the fingers and toes is a late sign and its absence does not exclude the diagnosis.
- Normal echocardiography does not exclude Kawasaki disease.
- Delayed treatment due to delayed diagnosis increases the risk of cardiac complications.