All issues > Volume 39(8); 1996

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1996;39(8):1139-1145. Published online August 15, 1996.

Clinical Review of Recurrent Kawasaki Disease

Jong Woon JW Choi¹, Soon Ki SK Kim¹, Byong Kwan BK Son¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Inha University Hospital, Seongnam, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: The recurrence of Kawasaki disease has not been considered significant and has not been reported on literatures in Korea. Authors reviewed cases with recurrent Kawasaki disease to get informations about recurrent Kawasaki disease and to know whether there is any factor, if present, that can predict recurrence.
Methods
: We reviewed and analyzed the hospital records of patients with recurrent Kawasaki disease who had been admitted to Inha University Hospital from January 1986 through December 1994.
Results
: The total number of cases with Kawasaki disease was 266 during that period in Inha University Hospital. Seven patients were diagnosed as having recurrent Kawasaki disease, but four of them fulfilled five or more items of the diagnostic criteria for Kawasaki disease. So the proportion of recurrent cases was 1.5%(4/259)(or 2.7% (7/259) ?). Sex ratio was M:F=3:1. The ages at the first episodes of illness were from 7 months to 3 years 2 months (median=24 months), and those of the second episodes were from 11 months to 6 years 3 months (median=4 years 3 months). The intervals between two episodes were from 4 months to 4 years 2 months (median=1 year 9 months). No special aspect could be found in the clinical and laboratory findings of primary cases, compared with other cases with kawasaki disease. The clinical manifestations and courses of recurred cases were not significantly different from those of primary cases, except one recurred case who developed coronary aneurysm.
Conclusion
: The recurrence rate of Kawasaki disease seems to be higher than 1.5%(or 2.7%) at least. The risk factors for recurrence could not be found, and there was no specific aspect in the clinical manifestations and courses of recurrent Kawasaki disease.

Keywords :Kawasaki disease, Recurrence