Kawasaki disease associated with chickenpox: Report of two sibling cases
Journal
Acta Paediatrica Taiwanica
Journal Volume
45
Journal Issue
2
Pages
94-96
Date Issued
2004
Author(s)
Lee D.-H.
Abstract
Kawasaki disease is a group of acute febrile illnesses of young children. Infectious etiology for Kawasaki disease has been long postulated, although no single causing agent has been identified consistently by conventional methods. This report described two sisters, soon after a primary infection by varicella-zoster virus, manifesting fever and muco-cutaneous lesions compatible with the feature of Kawasaki disease consecutively. Mild dilatation of the coronary artery was revealed in both by echocardiography. Both of them received intravenous gamma-globulin therapy and the follow-up echocardiography showed no further progression of the coronary lesion. We suggest the possibility of varicella-zoster virus as one of the triggering agents for Kawasaki disease in genetically susceptible individuals. The severe cardiac complication of Kawasaki disease may be prevented by early treatment if clinicians are alert to this possible association in those children with chickenpox exhibiting unusual muco-cutaneous lesions.
Subjects
Intravenous gamma-globulin; Kawasaki disease; Varicella-zoster virus
SDGs
Other Subjects
immunoglobulin; article; cardiovascular disease; case report; chickenpox; child; coronary artery dilatation; disease association; echocardiography; female; genetic susceptibility; human; mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; sibling; Varicella zoster virus; Arteries; Chickenpox; Child; Child, Preschool; Exanthema; Female; Fever; Humans; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome; Siblings
Type
journal article