All issues > Volume 45(1); 2002

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2002;45(1):109-113. Published online January 15, 2002.

Clinical Characteristics of Infant Kawasaki Disease

Yeun Keun YK Choi¹, Jung Min JM Hong¹, Su Mi SM Ihn¹, Hae Kyeung HK Lim², Hong Ryang HR Kil³

¹Department of P ediatrics, Daejeon Sun General Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
¹Department of P ediatrics, Daejeon Sun General Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, Daejeon Chungang Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
³Department of P ediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea

Correspondence Hong Ryang HR Kil ,Email: gilhong@cnu.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: To assess the incidence of coronary artery lesion(CAL) and the efficacy of intravenously administered immune globulin(IVGG) and aspirin therapy, identify risk factors for CAL, and analyze clinical characteristics in infants less than 12 months of age with Kawasaki disease.
Methods
: Retrospective chart review of children less than 12 months of age with Kawasaki disease between 1994 and 1998, diagnosed at Chungnam National University Hospital.
Results
: Of 202 patients with Kawasaki disease, 32(16 percent) were less than 1 year of age, including 7(3 percent) less than 6 months. Sex ratio of male to female was 2.5 : 1. Age at onset and Harada score were a predictor of the development of CAL : 5(71 percent) of 7 children less than 6 months and 10(40 percent) of 25 children between 6 to 12 months of age acquired CAL (P < 0.05), and 1(14 percent) of 7 children less than 6 months of age acquired giant CAL. No specific clinical or laboratory features predicted the development of CAL. Persistent(greater than 1 year) CAL were present in 2(7 percent) of 29 IVGG-treated children. The typical clinical features of Kawasaki disease was noted 24(75 percent) of 32 and the atypical one, 8(25 percent) of 32 children less than 12 months of age.
Conclusion
: Patients with Kawasaki disease of less than 12 months of age are at particularly increased risk of having CAL and difficulty in diagnosis due to atypical clinical features. So, it is suggested to intervene in the diagnostic criteria or risk factors for CAL, especially for patients with infant Kawasaki disease of less than 6 months of age.

Keywords :Infant Kawasaki disease, coronary artery lesion