MING-TAI LINJOU-KOU WANGSHUENN-NAN CHIUCHUN-AN CHENHUNG-CHI LUEMEI-HWAN WU2021-01-052021-01-0520071011-6842https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-34248682450&partnerID=40&md5=693ef3eb2b3cc6093b8a4deb90c8bdeehttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/538393Background: Seasonality in the occurrence of a disease often suggests the presence of environmental factors in its etiology. Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology that occurs predominantly in infants and young children. KD is characterized by fever, bilateral nonexudative conjunctivitis, erythema of the lips and oral mucosa, changes in the extremities, skin rash, and cervical lymphadenopathy. It is believed to be a multifactorial disease, and its seasonality had never been examined epidemiologically. Aim: We sought to examine the seasonality of KD in Taiwan by using a higher-power statistical method. Method: Epidemiologic data of Kawasaki disease in Taiwan between 1996 and 2002 were taken from a published paper. Basically, the database came from the National Health Insurance data and hospitalized patients who were under 18 years old and met criteria listed for KD (ICD-9-CM code: 446.1) were selected. The data were transformed and analyzed in the form of cumulative distribution curve. Kuiper's test was applied to test the seasonality, and differences were deemed significant at a p value < 0.05. Results: The cumulative distribution curve for KD in Taiwan was developed for each year. The results of Kuiper's test for seasonality in each year between 1996 and 2002 showed statistical significance for all years examined, (p < 0.01) and ascertained the presence of seasonality for KD. Conclusion: Epidemiological analysis of KD patients in Taiwan confirmed the seasonality of this disease. This will support the theory that certain infectious agents may cause KD. Extended survey of the ubiquitous etiology is advised.[SDGs]SDG3adolescent; article; controlled study; hospitalization; human; mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome; national health insurance; seasonal variation; statistical analysis; Taiwanjournal article2-s2.0-34248682450