Kawasaki disease in Jordanian children

ABSTRACT

Nineteen children with signs and symptoms suggesting Kawasaki Disease [KD] were admitted to the pediatric ward at Jordan University Hospital in the period from February 1997 to September 2001. To evaluate our experience in diagnosing and managing children with KD, the clinical notes, investigations including ESR, platelets count, ECG, echocardiogram and drugs used for those children were studied. Their ages ranged from 40 days to 12 yrs, and 70% were aged up to 2 years. Male to female ratio was 8 to 1. Seventeen patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of KD and two had atypical KD. All received 2 gm/kg IV infusion of gamma globulin over 12 hrs, and 80-100 mg /kg/ day aspirin. One patient, received prednisone, 52% had cardiac involvement, 26% had coronary artery aneurysms and four had pericardial effusion. All except three had complete recovery, two continued to have coronary artery aneurysms and one died [5%]. Early management is important for good prognosis in KD. Further national multi-center studies are recommended to evaluate the incidence and the outcome of KD in Jordan